Ola Akinwunmi
Nigerian chess prodigy and youth advocate Tunde Onakoya has broken his silence following widespread criticism over his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu, insisting his engagement was about celebrating achievement—not politics.
Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and a recent Guinness World Record holder for the longest chess marathon, emphasized that the meeting with Tinubu was an acknowledgment of his work, not a political endorsement.
“To be honoured and received by the President and the highest office in my own country, for this reason, is not a crime,” Onakoya posted on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter). “It is not even a national honour, by the way.”
The 29-year-old Lagos native, who has turned chess into a life-changing tool for underprivileged children, came under fire from critics who viewed his visit to the Presidency as a betrayal of the grassroots cause he represents. But in a candid and impassioned post, he defended the move, saying critics had misunderstood his intent.
Onakoya made it clear that his commitment to Nigeria’s youth remains his north star.
“I have no interest in partisan politics because of the sensitivity of the work that I do,” he said. “If that ever changes, then I would resign my role as CEO of Chess in Slums Africa.”
He rejected comparisons between his visit and other controversial global recognitions, calling such analogies “laughable.”
Much of Onakoya’s post focused on clarifying the mission of Chess in Slums Africa—a grassroots initiative using chess to foster critical thinking and academic growth among children in underserved communities.
“The rhetoric that Chess in Slums only exists or is relevant because of bad governance is not accurate,” he stated. “We’re using chess as a tool to teach cognition and improve academic outcomes.”
He described the initiative not as charity but as a vehicle for long-term transformation, targeting children who have been failed by traditional systems.
“What most of you measure as the most tangible impact is us just dignifying the stories of the children you see all the time on the streets but pay no attention to.”
Onakoya stressed that engaging with leaders—whether praised or reviled—does not translate into political allegiance.
“A visit is not an endorsement. I will visit many more people and will continue to sell my chess boards,” he wrote. “You may not understand my intentions or character because the only thing you know about me is what I let on social media. But reputation is not character.”
He went on to emphasize his decade-long dedication to educational and cognitive development for marginalized youths, noting that his work has continued without international grants and with minimal government support—until recently.
“We’ve been working with the Lagos State Government for about a year now to take kids from Jakande and Isale Eko off the streets. One of them recently graduated from furniture school and is living again.”
Looking ahead, Onakoya expressed his vision for a Chess/STEM institute that will serve thousands of children and outlive his personal involvement.
“In a decade or two, the Chess/STEM institute will stand, and it will be a place where thousands of children will dream again and be educated in a way that makes them valuable to the world,” he wrote. “All the strong opinions we have now will fall flat in the face of this.”
Despite the criticism, Onakoya remains undeterred, stating that his legacy will be defined not by optics but by outcomes.
“The truth is, I will do many more things that may challenge your perception of me, but I know my heart is in the right place. I live for the audience of one, and that is enough.”
In an era of intense political polarization, Onakoya’s message is a reminder that civic impact doesn’t always follow partisan lines—and that sometimes, a visit is just a visit.