How Tunde Onakoya Plans to Use $1 Million to Fund Initiative

In the heart of New York City’s bustling Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya recently accomplished more than just setting a new Guinness World Record; he propelled a visionary campaign to transform education and empower youth across Africa. 

Tunde Onakoya’s strategic gameplay during the world’s longest chess marathon not only shattered records but also ignited his ambitious initiative, Chess in Slums Africa (CISA). His feat has sparked a $1 million fundraising effort aimed at distributing chess sets to underprivileged children, proving that sports and education can intertwine beautifully to foster significant social change.

Tunde Onakoya’s record for change

Tunde Onakoya’s extraordinary journey began with a chessboard in Times Square, where he engaged in a relentless match against Shawn Martinez for over 60 hours. This marathon session was not just about endurance but also about proving the power of dedication and focus. Tunde Onakoya’s achievement broke the previous record and brought significant attention to his non-profit organization, Chess in Slums Africa. 

This spotlight is helping to funnel resources towards a noble cause: educating and empowering African youth through chess.

Onakoya’s empowerment through chess

Founded in 2018, Chess in Slums Africa has a clear mission: to use chess as a tool to inspire and teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning to children in Africa’s most underserved communities. Tunde Onakoya believes that chess can be more than a game; it can be a lifeline to education for many children. His initiative collaborates with “The Gift of Chess,” a U.S.-based non-profit, to ensure that one million chess sets reach these children by 2030, enabling them to learn, play, and grow in intellect and character.

Tunde Onakoya and his vision for the future

The recent marathon is part of a broader, million-dollar fundraising campaign championed by Tunde Onakoya. His aim is clear: to empower one million underprivileged children within the next five years through free chess instruction, comprehensive after-school programs, and competitive tournaments. 

By achieving this, he hopes to unlock the potential of many young minds, giving them the tools they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.