The National Master of Chess and current Guinness World Record holder for the longest Chess Marathon in history, Mr. Tunde Onakoya, has been named the State’s Sports Ambassador by Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The State Chess Competition will begin in all regions of the state in commemoration of Mr. Onakoya, as declared by Governor Abiodun, who made this known on Thursday when he received Mr. Onakoya in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Abiodun expressed his admiration for the National Chess Master’s accomplishments on the international scene, stating that perseverance, hard effort, and determination were necessary for this to have happened.
According to the governor:
“I can see why you continue to be inspiration to many young people across the length and breath of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and future.
“Today, we will be officially appointing you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts and we are boasting that we are set to host the best National Sports Festival that has never been held in the history of this country and coincidentally, chess is one of the games that will feature in that event.
“I have decided that because of you and in your honour, we will begin an Ogun State Chess Competition across the length and breath of the state. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government all the way to the state level.
“But we as your state, we will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize, for the winner of that competition.”
cc: Daily Post Ng
