In the world of international sports and competition, few stories resonate as deeply as those of individuals rising from local playgrounds and small beginnings to the zenith of international recognition. This is exactly the story of the young Nigerian global chess champion, Tunde Onakoya, whose journey to becoming a world-renowned chess champion, especially his recent feat of successfully attempting to smash and set a new Guinness World Records has captured the attention and admiration of many around the world. It is not surprising that the internet became awash with his photos.
The humble beginning of Tunde and the game of chess started at Yintab Private Academy (YPA), when he was admitted into JSS 2 on the September 18, 2006. He subsequently joined the YPA Chess Club and was part of YPA’s chess program throughout his time at YPA from 2006 to 2011. Under the guidance of now late Mr. Clement Okoro, a dedicated Chess Teacher and Coach whose passion for chess inspired the likes of Tunde. Though romantically more fanciful to claim self-learning to play from observing at a Barber’s shop, Clement’s dedication to Tunde got his game to blossom over time. While Tunde may have seen a Chess set, Barber’s, more so
in a low-income community play Ayo and draughts – called checkers by Americans. Yintab Private Academy and its owners provided Tunde the opportunity to compete with other children in other schools and gained confidence.
Growing up in the Isale Odo community in Ikorodu, like many kids from humble backgrounds, Tunde started life with deprivations. But fortune and providence came while his mum secured the job of a cleaner at YPA adjacent to TOS Benson Estate, at Oja Bus Stop, Agric, Ikorodu. According to the School’s Managing Director, Mrs. Adejumoke Badejo, Tunde’s mother, Mrs. Taiwo Onakoya as a support staff in the school, took advantage of half tuition fees for staff children to send Tunde through secondary school. The school was very lenient and did
not in any way hamper Tunde’s progress over fees. Tunde being a very diligent and promising
student was appointed Head Prefect (Head Boy) in his final year at Yintab Private Academy.
The game of chess is one that the management of Yintab Private Academy had planned as an important strategic aid for critical thinking for students. The Chairman of YPA, Prof. Babafemi A. Badejo recollects how his secondary school teacher and school father, Mr. Anthony J. Finch had introduced him to the game at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode. Little wonder that he insisted that the game must be woven into the learning at the private school set up by his family.
Furthermore, Prof. Badejo founded the Femi Badejo Foundation, a private, non-profit organization that promoted the knowledge of the game of chess. The foundation considers chess as a tool for helping young people cultivate skills in critical reasoning needed for both academic and social development. From 1999 to 2007, the foundation under the leadership of a former Judge of Ogun state, Justice Solomon Abidoye Olugbemi sponsored series of annual chess tournaments in the under 14 and under 10 categories in conjunction with the Nigerian Chess
Federation (NCF). Upon his appointment as a Judge of Ogun State, he handed over to the Director of the competition, one Mr. Johnson. Justice Solomon Abidoye Olugbemi, recounting some of his experiences while he led the Femi Badejo Foundation in an interview on April 24, 2024, said:
“I was Involved in organizing the chess tournaments for under 14 and 10 children at the time. I worked in conjunction with the Tournament Director, one Mr. Johnson, I cannot remember his surname now. We held the tournaments at the National Stadium, for 7 years, and the 8th one at Yintab School Ikorodu. Funding was done by then Dr. Femi Badejo through his wife, while he was away at the UN as a multilateral diplomat. We did our best to get good participation, invited schools in Lagos state, Ogun state, Oyo state. Some came from as far as Port Harcourt to participate in the competition. tried to come from far places. The tournaments had a lot of impact on the children. A lot of students and schools participated. One school even tried to come very far from the East, but could not make it. The Children were so happy. Apart from the Chess, we also gave them lunch, then later snacks as a result of increasing costs”
Justice Olugbemi recalled how his departure to take up a higher career created a critical leadership vacuum in the Femi Badejo Foundation, that led the founder, to voluntary withdraw funding, which was majorly responsible for the current state of the foundation. There were usually a number of financial demands from federal and state government officials in trying to organize the tournaments, which tended towards corruption. While he successfully talked officials out of breaking the law, his successors did not have the clout to do the same. Prof.
Badejo was not ready to bribe in order to do good after paying for the use of rooms at the National Stadium, renting and fueling generator, etc., and still face demands from officials.
However, it is important to note that the competitions provided the opportunity for Tunde Onakoya to have his first experience of traveling out of Ikorodu and compete with children from high-brow schools.
In a 2022 visit to his alma mata, in a moment of nostalgia and recollection of some of his fondest memories of the school and the Chess program of the school, to an audience of young school boys and girls seated in the same hall he sat a couple of years ago, he jokingly gave his young audience a fine treat of laughter with his “Rice and Chicken Secret confession” As a young boy, he was personally attracted to the Chess Program of the school and the annual Chess Tournament organized by the Femi Badejo Foundation, because of the Rice and Chicken served as Lunch…but eventually picked up interest in the Chess game. Tunde essentially inspired the
students to see that they can achieve anything, become whoever they want to be, just like him irrespective of their backgrounds. He also spoke to the students on the need to understand the real meaning and use of education. Since his last courtesy visit to the School, Yintab Private Academy has rekindled the Chess program back, enjoying the paid services of some of Mr. Tunde’s trained Chess coaches.
The very appreciative mother of our international Chess champion, Mrs. Taiwo Onakoya (a.k.a. Iya Pupa), on a recent visit to the Yintab Private Academy, where she also graciously paid off some outstanding school fees of her son, said in Yoruba language, to a former Head Mistress, of YPA, Ms. Olubunmilola Odesanya, “Ohun ti Tunde ko lati odo Yintab ni a fi n jeun lonii” meaning, it was what Tunde learnt from Yintab, that we are using to eat today.
The achievements of Tunde are very commendable. As Prof. Badejo noted on his Facebook page, Tunde is a pride of Nigeria. How great it would have been if Mr. Clement Okoro who died at a very young age in 2013 were still alive today to see his contribution to lives that Tunde is touching. His achievements are not just personal victories but are also testaments to the quality and impact of the foundational training he received at the Yintab Private Academy.
Beyond teaching children to play chess, Tunde Onakoya has inspired and empowered many children to become better versions of themselves. His efforts have also facilitated access to educational scholarships for children from poor backgrounds. Tunde also does advocacy and some public speaking on exploring creative methods in education, mental development and social projects. From these, he has earned international recognitions, global features, and mentions in international outlets showing how his work continues to transform the lives of many
children.
The story of the physically challenged Ferdinand from Makoko community, who rose to the limelight with his life-changing chess encounter with the governor of Lagos state, is one of the inspiring stories of children whose lives are being transformed by Tunde’s Chess in slums of Africa. A firm believer in the African philosophy of Ubuntu (Being self through other, all for one, one for all), it is not surprising Tunde is investing so much into empowering less privileged children, ensuring they are supported to lead successful and impactful lives.
Abraham Ameh, (M.A, Unilag), is Special Adviser, Yintab Strategy Consults, Ikorodu, Lagos