Tunde Onakoya’s visit to President Tinubu highlights his stature as a national hero and global advocate for youth empowerment through chess; not political alignment

Tunde Onakoya national hero is not just a headline; it’s a fact grounded in impact.

The Nigerian-born chess prodigy has ignited global headlines for all the right reasons: his record-breaking achievements, pioneering charity work, and unshakeable positivity.

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But when pictures emerged of his meeting with President Tinubu, some critics rushed to cast his meeting in a political light.

Let’s set the record straight.

Tunde Onakoya is celebrated not for political posturing, but for his enduring dedication to society’s most vulnerable.

He made history in April 2024 when he played nonstop chess for 60 hours in Times Square, breaking the Guinness World Record to raise funds for Chess in Slums Africa, the NGO he founded in 2018 to empower disadvantaged children across Lagos and beyond.

“It is possible to do great things from a small place,” Onakoya famously said; words that resonated globally and won him praise from President Tinubu, former Vice-President Osinbajo, and Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu.

Tunde’s journey is one of inspiration.

Born in Ikorodu and growing up in slums like Majidun and Makoko, he discovered chess in a barber’s shop and turned it into a tool of transformation.

The chess academy he founded has offered lifelong scholarships to over 200 children and secured full scholarships for 20, changing lives one move at a time.

“Chess became more than a game; it gave me an identity…and made me believe I could think,” Onakoya shared in an interview; summarising why his work matters so deeply.

The meeting with President Tinubu was a celebration, not a transaction; a rare moment when Nigerian leadership acknowledged excellence in youth-focused social innovation.

Instead of criticism, we should recognise the validation of Nigerian ingenuity on a world stage.

Tunde’s work has drawn support from global ambassadors, including the US Embassy in Nigeria, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and music stars like Davido and Adekunle Gold.

That widespread backing speaks volumes about his universal appeal, far beyond partisan divides.

Above all, Onakoya is a nation-builder; using chess to spark critical thinking, confidence, and hope where cynicism often reigns.

His dedication proves that genuine service transcends politics, and that meeting with authority does not signal partisanship; it signals progress.

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Let us rally behind the real story; a national hero who proved what can be achieved through grit, compassion, and chess.

Onakoya doesn’t belong to a party, but to every Nigerian who dares to dream.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.