During the recent Sallah holiday, Guinness World Record holder and chess master, Tunde Onakoya, joined other prominent Nigerians in paying a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos.
Shortly after photos from the visit surfaced online, Onakoya faced criticism from some Nigerians who condemned his presence at the event. Critics accused him of fraternizing with the very political establishment they believe contributes to the systemic challenges affecting the children he works to uplift through his Chess in Slums Africa initiative. Some even claimed he was using the initiative as a platform to gain political recognition.
In response to the backlash, Onakoya took to his social media handle to address both his supporters and detractors. He emphasized that a visit does not equate to an endorsement and reaffirmed his commitment to his mission and neutrality in partisan politics.
Here’s a summary of his statement:
“I’ll say a few things…”
All Reactions Are Valid: “The anger, the hate, the love, the applause, the criticism — all of it is valid, and I embrace it.”
Recognition Is Not a Crime: “I am a world record holder — I have achieved something no one else in the world has. I was recently honored by the city of New York. Being received by the President of my country for that reason is not a crime. (It wasn’t even a national award, by the way).” He noted that he has declined many awards in the past and dismissed comparisons to recipients of honors from countries with problematic histories as “laughable.”
No Interest in Partisan Politics: “I have no interest in partisan politics because of the sensitivity of the work that I do. If that ever changes, I will resign as CEO of Chess in Slums Africa.”
Purpose Beyond Politics: “The claim that Chess in Slums only exists because of bad governance is inaccurate. We use chess as a tool to enhance cognitive abilities and academic performance. It’s not charity. What people often see is the dignifying of children’s stories — children many ignore daily. The real impact lies in equipping them with critical thinking skills and guiding them toward formal or vocational education.”
A Visit Is Not an Endorsement: “I will visit many more people and will continue to sell my chess boards.”
Character vs. Reputation: “You may not understand my intentions because what you know of me is limited to social media. Reputation is not character. I’ve been committed to this work for 10 years — I’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.”
Focused on the Future: “I embrace both the love and the hate — but I’m not driven by either. In a decade or two, the Chess/STEM Institute will stand as a place where thousands of children will be empowered and educated.”
Independence of the Work: “In seven years, we’ve never applied for or received international grants.”
Collaborating for Greater Impact: “We’ve partnered with the Lagos State Government for over a year to help kids off the streets. One recently graduated from a furniture school. Lives are at stake. Whether or not we agree on politics, we must all play our part. Yes, we’ll partner with the government — it’s your tax anyway. And this work must be institutionalized so Tunde is no longer the hero of the story.”
Staying True to the Mission: “My fight is different. I took a stand 10 years ago for the country I want to see. I will do many things that may challenge your perception, but I’ll always put the children’s needs first.”
He concluded by urging Nigerians to continue holding their leaders accountable, past, present, and future:
“If that means I get some heat too, that’s okay. But don’t tell lies or reduce this work to politics. It’s much more complex than that.”
Onakoya shared that his team recently returned from New York with five children and are preparing to travel to Budapest for another international event. “The world is paying attention to the Nigerian child, not through stories of pity, but through demonstrated intellectual capacity,” he said.
“In the end, if you want to change the world, someone has to pay for it. We must raise capital at scale — it’s the only way to move the needle.”
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