Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Academy and recent Guinness World Record holder, announced on Tuesday that ten children from his organization, including prodigy Deborah Quickpen, will travel to the United States for the Chess & Community Conference next year. The initiative which said by him to be significant milestone in “fostering cross-cultural exchange between Nigerian and American youth.”
Onakoya stated, “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 Chess & Community Conference next year, this will help us continue fostering cross-cultural exchange opportunities between Nigerians and Americans.”
The Chess & Community Conference, organized by Chess and Community, a nonprofit youth development organization based in Athens, Georgia, has been instrumental in Onakoya’s own journey.
“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 added.
Onakoya expressed gratitude to Chess and Community Conference Inc. and its founder, Lemuel LaRoche, whom he refers to as a “brother and role model,” for making this opportunity possible.
In a documentary shared on his social media, Onakoya reflected on the impact of Chess and Community on his work. “Life is an incredible guy, and the interesting things that I learned about life. About three years ago, because I saw a TED talk that he gave, this is where Chess and Community comes in,” he explained.
The collaboration between Chess in Slums and Chess and Community highlights the power of chess as a tool for youth development and cultural exchange. Onakoya emphasized the challenges of promoting chess education in Africa, where it is often undervalued.
“You know Africa where education is very undervalued and chess is just like, how do you really communicate the value of that to people like enough to help them understand that this is why this work is important, right?”
This announcement comes on the heels of Onakoya’s recent achievement of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon. The event, which took place in New York’s Times Square, lasted for 60 hours and raised significant funds for African children’s education.
Chess in Slums Academy, founded by Onakoya, uses chess as a tool to mentor and empower children in underprivileged communities across Nigeria. The organization has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to education and community development.
Chess and Community, the partner organization hosting the conference, was founded in 2012 in Athens, Georgia. It focuses on youth development through community engagement and civic empowerment, aligning closely with the goals of Chess in Slums Academy.
As the ten Nigerian children prepare for their journey to the United States, this initiative stands as a testament to the power of chess in bridging cultural divides and creating opportunities for underprivileged youth.
The upcoming conference promises to be a transformative experience, not only for the participating children but also for the broader goal of international youth collaboration and empowerment.
