Tinubu celebrates Tunde Onakoya for breaking the Chess marathon record

Tinubu also praised Nigerian youths for their great exploits in different fields.

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated Nigerian Chess Champion Tunde Onakoya, who just set a new world record for the longest chess-playing session.

Onakoya broke the record during the early hours of Saturday, April 20th 2024, after playing for over 58 hours undefeated.

The chess grandmaster, who achieved this feat in the heart of Times Square in New York City, has now eclipsed the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes set by Norwegian duo, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

His main reason for the challenge, however, is to raise a total of $1m for underprivileged African children to access education.

President Tinubu has therefore commended Onakoya for displaying resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity which Nigerian youths are known for.

Tinubu described his achievement as a “rare feat”, pointing to the reason driving his compelling demonstration of character.

“I celebrate this Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for his rare feat, but especially for the reason driving this compelling demonstration of character, which is raising funds for African children to learn and find opportunity through chess,” the president wrote on his official X page.

“Tunde has shown a streak customary among Nigeria’s youth population, the audacity to make good change happen; to baffle impossibility, and propel innovations and solutions to the nation’s challenges, even from corners of disadvantage.”

The president emphasised that Nigerian youths have shown in all fields, that great exploits can truly come from small quarters.

‘I commend the inclination of Nigerians – across artificial partitions – for unity, once again exemplified through their undiluted support for this epoch-making endeavour.

“I assure all citizens that my administration remains strongly committed to creating and expanding opportunities for the youth to explore and exercise their abilities and become the symbols of greatness our nation represents into the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Onakoya plans to extend the record as he targets to reach 60 hours of non-stop chess playing.

In a post on his X account, the Chess in Slums founder annouced his intention to push for an extra two hours due to reason behind the exploit in the first place.

“We’re pushing to 60 hours guys. We’re not stopping yet. Let’s keep going. We have a fundraising goal to meet for the education of African children around the world,” he wrote.