‘To be honoured by President not a crime,’ Tunde Onakoya tells critics over visit to Tinubu

Abdullateef Fowewe

Renowned chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has responded to public criticism following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Onakoya clarified that the purpose of the engagement was to further his mission rather than support any political agenda.

In a post on his X (formally Twitter) account, Onakoya emphasised that his life’s work is dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through education, chess, and critical thinking, rather than political affiliations.

He highlighted the successes of his initiative, pointing out that many children from impoverished backgrounds have moved on to formal and vocational education thanks to his organization’s support.

He underscored that the effects of his work go beyond politics and are rooted in tangible, measurable results.

Onakoya also mentioned ongoing partnerships with the Lagos State Government aimed at broadening their impact and integrating the Chess in Slums model into wider educational systems.

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 honored and awarded by the city of New York.

“To be honored 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 honor 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.

“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 we 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 resource 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 10 long years of staying with this one thing, so I know for a fact that I have earned the benefit of the doubt.

“Again, I embrace the love and the hate. But I care for none of it.

“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.

All the strong opinions we have now falls flat in the face of this.

“Finally, I appreciate everyone who has ever supported the incredible work we’ve done in the last 7 years. We have never applied or received any international grants in this time.

“We’ve been working with the Lagos state government for about a year now to take kids from Jakande and Isale Eko off the streets. One of them recently graduated from furniture school and is living again. Our collective hurt is valid and we may disagree on politics but there are actual lives at stake and we all have a role to play in whatever capacity to stop this hemorrhage. Yes we will partner with the government to scale this impact and institutionalize it so Tunde stops being the hero of the story. It’s your tax anyway.

“Finally I’d say this, My fight is different.

“I’m not on the fence. I took a stand 10 years ago for the country I want to see.

“The truth is I will do many more things that may challenge your perception of me, but I know my heart is in the right place and whatever rooms my vision gives me access to, I will put the dreams and needs of the children first. I live for the audience of one, and that is enough.”