My visit to Tinubu not about politics, Tunde Onakoya replies critic

Nigerian chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has addressed the backlash following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu, making it clear that his mission remains focused on youth empowerment rather than political alignment.

Onakoya, who was recently honoured by the City of New York after becoming a Guinness World Record holder, explained that being acknowledged by Nigeria’s highest office was neither a crime nor a political statement.

In a strongly worded statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Onakoya stressed that he had turned down many awards in the past and found it unfair to be compared to individuals who have received awards from countries accused of war crimes, calling such analogies “laughable”.

He wrote, “I’ll say a few things. The anger, the hate, the love, the applause, the criticism – all of it is valid and I embrace it. I am a world record holder, which means I have attained something no one else in the world has ever done. I was recently honoured and awarded by the City of New York

To be honoured and received by the President and the highest office in my own country, for this reason, is not a crime. (It is not even a national honour, by the way.)

“I have declined many awards. Comparing me to people who have received awards and recognition from countries that have committed war crimes is, at best, laughable.

“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.”

Dismissing claims that his work thrives only because of bad governance, Onakoya said Chess in Slums Africa exists to restore dignity and offer education to children who have fallen through societal cracks.

He clarified that the organisation uses chess to stimulate cognitive development and improve academic outcomes, not as a charity but as a transformational tool.

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He said, “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. Using it as a social intervention tool is because those children have fallen through the cracks and cannot make it to the classrooms. This is not charity or ‘NGO’.

“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. The real impact here is ensuring they have the critical capacity to think for themselves and putting them through formal or vocational education

“I continue to consult with educational institutions and tech companies around the world, so my work will always be relevant, and whatever resources or influence that gives me, I will use all of it to serve the children who deserve a place in the world as well.

“A visit is not an endorsement. I will visit many more people and will continue to sell my chess boards.

“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 ten long years of staying with this one thing, so I know for a fact that I have earned the benefit of the doubt.