Guinness World Record holder Tunde Onakoya addressed public reaction to his visit with President Bola Tinubu, asserting his non-partisan commitment to youth education and dispelling misconceptions about Chess in Slums Africa’s operations

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]unde Onakoya, CEO of Chess in Slums Africa and a Guinness World Record holder, has publicly defended his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, addressing a range of public reactions, from applause to criticism.

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Onakoya began by acknowledging the validity of all reactions, stating, “The anger, the hate, the love, the applause, the criticism, all of it is valid and I embrace it.”

He then clarified that being honored by the President of his country for a world record achievement, especially after being recognised by the city of New York, is not a crime, emphasizing it was not even a national honor.

He also pointed out that he has previously declined many awards.

He sharply dismissed comparisons of his recognition to those who have received awards from countries implicated in war crimes, calling such comparisons “laughable.”

Regarding his political alignment, Onakoya firmly stated: “I have no interest in partisan politics because of the sensitivity of the work that I do. If that ever changes, then I would resign my role as CEO of Chess in Slums Africa.”

He clarified that a visit to any public figure is “not an endorsement” and that he would continue to visit “many more people” to further his mission.

Onakoya also tackled the misconception that Chess in Slums Africa’s relevance is solely tied to bad governance. He explained: “The real impact of our work is in the synapses. We’re using chess as a tool to teach cognition and improve academic outcomes.”

He added that using it as a social intervention tool is for children who have “fallen through the cracks and cannot make it to the classrooms,” clarifying that their work is not mere “charity or ‘NGO’.”

He stressed that the true impact lies in “ensuring they have the critical capacity to think for themselves and putting them through formal or vocational education.”

The rhetoric that Chess in slums only exists or is relevant because of bad governance is not accurate. The real impact of our work is in the synapses. We’re using chess as a tool to teach cognition and improve academic outcomes.

He highlighted his ongoing consultations with educational institutions and tech companies globally, affirming the sustained relevance of his work and his commitment to using any influence gained to serve children.

Reflecting on his decade-long commitment to his cause, Onakoya expressed confidence in having earned the benefit of the doubt, stating, “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. It’s been 10 long years of staying with this one thing, so I know for a fact that I have earned the benefit of the doubt.”

Looking ahead, Onakoya shared his long-term vision: “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 believes that current strong opinions “fall flat in the face of this.”

He expressed appreciation for all support received over the past seven years, noting that the organization has “never applied or received any international grants” during this period.

Onakoya also revealed ongoing collaboration with the Lagos State government for about a year, aimed at getting children from Jakande and Isale Eko off the streets, citing a success story of a graduate from furniture school.

He acknowledged that while political disagreements are valid, “there are actual lives at stake and we all have a role to play in whatever capacity to stop this hemorrhage.”

He confirmed intentions to partner with the government to scale impact and institutionalise their work so that he is no longer the sole “hero of the story,” reminding the public that it’s “your tax anyway.”

Onakoya concluded by reiterating his distinct fight: “I’m not on the fence. I took a stand 10 years ago for the country I want to see.”

Also read: Tunde Onakoya national hero shines brighter than any photo op

He anticipated further actions that might challenge public perception but affirmed his heart is “in the right place” and that he will always prioritise “the dreams and needs of the children first” in any accessible rooms of influence. His commitment, he stated, is to “the audience of one, and that is enough.”