Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of Nigerians (NIDCOM) (NIDCOM), congratulated the extraordinary achievements of the 12th Annual Chess and Community Conference held in the United States, representing the slum initiative of young Nigerian chess players.
These outstanding young athletes demonstrated their skills on international platforms, proudly took home and received prestigious scholarships.
In a statement issued on April 1, 2025, Gabriel Odu, media, public relations and agreement officer at NIDCOM, expressed admiration for the players’ determination and skills. She described their success as an important source of inspiration for Nigerian youth, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and effort.
She said “These kids have proven that talent is limitless. Their victory is an inspiration and we must continue to support initiatives that develop our youth potential.”
Dabiri-Erewa also praised Tunde Onakoya, the founder of chess in the Slums Initiative for his unremitting commitment to empowering children through chess games.
Onakoya, also the Guinness World Record holder of Guinness’s longest chess marathon, works to introduce chess to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. Under his leadership, the initiative not only taught the basics of chess, but also improved critical thinking skills, which built self-confidence and opened up educational opportunities for participants.
Chess in the slum initiative has become a powerful force to promote chess as a tool for personal growth and social change, enabling children to stand out on and on boards.
