Nigerian Chess Champion Tunde Onakoya Celebrates Brothers’ Success Story
Tunde Onakoya, a renowned chess champion from Nigeria and the founder of the Chess in Slums initiative, recently shared a poignant tale about two brothers he adopted following their mother’s untimely passing. This emotional journey has culminated in one of the brothers becoming a chess champion in the United States.
Onakoya, known for his efforts to uplift underprivileged youth through chess, recounted his first encounter with Jamiu and Ayomide in 2018. At that time, the brothers lived in the impoverished community of Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos.
“I met Jamiu in 2018,” Onakoya stated on social media. “He was an inquisitive child, intelligent and full of potential, working as a roadside mechanic. I invited him and his brother Ayomide to join our weekend chess academy.”
As Onakoya developed a bond with the brothers, he took the initiative to visit their home, where he met their mother. She was a resilient woman who had lost a leg in an accident while scavenging for plastic to support her children. Onakoya recounted, “That’s my mum, he said. She never received hospital care due to financial constraints. Their father had left when Jamiu was born, and they never knew him.”
Tragedy struck in 2019 when their mother’s health declined. Onakoya remembered her heartfelt plea: “She cried and asked me to take care of her boys if anything should happen to her.” Just two weeks later, she passed away.
“That day marked the beginning of my journey as a father,” Onakoya expressed. He took the boys into his home, ensured they returned to school, and watched them bloom into promising young men. Jamiu excelled in chess and is currently pursuing a university education, while Ayomide, a talented track and field athlete, is completing his final year of secondary school.
Now, after seven years, Jamiu has achieved a significant milestone. Onakoya proudly announced that Jamiu recently triumphed at the ICN Chess Championship in New York, outmaneuvering over 200 USCF-rated competitors and securing a $500 scholarship.
“Today, I am overwhelmed with joy that words cannot express,” Onakoya declared. “I fought back tears today because of my immense pride for you. Mama Jamiu, your boys are thriving. I honored my promise, and I always will.”
Through this heartfelt story, Tunde Onakoya continues to demonstrate how chess can transform lives and provide hope for a brighter future.
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