President Bola Tinubu has praised Chess maestro Tunde Onakoya for achieving a new world chess record.
Tinubu thanked Onakoya for “sounding the gong of Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity at the square of global acclaim”.
On Saturday, the Presidency conveyed in a statement signed by the President’s Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement bears the title ‘President Tinubu congratulates Tunde Onakoya on new world chess record.’
On Saturday, Onakoya shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon by playing undefeated for over 58 hours.
During the marathon held at New York’s Times Square, Onakoya surpassed the record set by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.
The President celebrated the Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for the 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,” said the statement.
Tinubu stated that Mr. Onakoya 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 affirmed that Nigeria’s youths have demonstrated in all fields, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, the pulsating skit-making enterprise, education, science and technology, that great exploits can truly come from small quarters.
He praised Nigerians for their inclination towards unity, transcending artificial barriers, as demonstrated once more by their unwavering support for this groundbreaking endeavor.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s steadfast dedication to fostering and broadening opportunities for youth to discover and utilize their talents, ensuring they become the epitome of greatness that our nation embodies in the years to come.