Nigerian Guinness World Record holder, Tunde Onakoya, has revealed plans to send ten children from Nigeria to America for chess conference, News About Nigeria reports.
The chess champion disclosed this in a statement via his verified handle on X on Tuesday.
He noted that ten children from the Chess in Slums Academy, including prodigy, Deborah Quickpen, will be travelling to America for the Chess Community conference next year.
According to him, this will help the academy in its pursuit to foster cross-cultural exchange opportunities between Nigerians and Americans.
He also disclosed that the conference had given him the opportunity to travel to the States for the first time, and expressed his joy that the kids will be getting the same opportunity.
He added that the experience will also inspire them to know that they can also make an impact on the global stage.
“I am thrilled to announce that 10 children from the Chess in slums academy including prodigy Deborah Quickpen, will be traveling to America for the @ChessCommunity conference next year. This will help us continue fostering cross-cultural exchange opportunities between Nigerians and Americans.
“This conference gave me the opportunity to travel to America for the first time in my life. Now the kids will enjoy the same experience and more importantly, realize that they too can make an impact on a global stage,” he stated.
Recall that Tunde had won the Guinness record for the longest marathon chess game.
He is also the founder and covener of Chess in Slums Africa, and has organised a number of interventions for children across slums in Lagos state including Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko and recently, Oshodi.
