The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has hosted Nigerian Chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, at the palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
A statement by Moses Olafare, Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife, Osun, said that the traditional ruler rewarded both students and teachers with N1.6 million.
The occasion, organised with the Hopes Alive Initiative, featured an inter-school Chess competition tagged “The King’s Move”.
According to the statement, the Ooni donated N1.6 million to students and teachers, including N500,000 for participating students, N100,000 for the overall winner, Toyosi Samuel, and N1 million for teachers.
The Ooni presented a specially crafted iconic artwork to Onakoya in recognition of his contributions to youth development and education through Chess.
The Ooni lauded Onakoya for using Chess to empower young minds, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.
14 students from various secondary schools across Ile-Ife participated in the Chess competition, which aimed to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Onakoya encouraged students to remain focused and resilient, highlighting the benefits of Chess in developing intellect and decision-making skills.
Onakoya expressed gratitude to the Ooni and organizers for embracing his vision and supporting the development of young people through Chess.
