June 10, (THEWILL) – Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, on Monday night met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House to formally present his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon ever played.
The hmeeting was officially disclosed through a post on President Tinubu’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, where the President lauded Onakoya for his pioneering efforts in empowering underprivileged children through chess.
President Tinubu specifically highlighted Onakoya’s innovative use of the game as a powerful tool to foster education and personal development within underserved communities across Nigeria.
“Tunde’s journey, from the streets of Lagos to uplifting underserved children and breaking world records, reflects the resilience and brilliance of Nigeria’s youth,” President Tinubu stated in his post
Onakoya, in collaboration with American chess player Shawn Martinez, established the new world record by engaging in a continuous chess marathon for an impressive 64 hours in New York City.
This feat surpassed the previous record of 60 hours, a mark that Onakoya had initially set before it was broken by a Norwegian duo in 2024.
Tinubu further commended the global recognition garnered by Onakoya’s endeavor and expressed a keen interest in facilitating the nationwide expansion of Onakoya’s impactful initiative.
“I would love to see how his work can be replicated nationwide and I am looking forward to seeing him in Abuja to hear how the government can support him. Tunde Onakoya’s vision aligns with our administration’s: no child left behind, no talent wasted. Nigeria is proud of him, and we will walk with him,” the President stated.
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