Chess advocate and Guinness World Record holder, Tunde Onakoya, has clarified that his visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos was not political, he said it was not an endorsement of the president, contrary to the assumptions circulating online. Onakoya, who recently played chess for 64 hours non-stop in Times Square, made the statement in a post shared via his official X account on Wednesday.
Meeting Tinubu not a political move
Onakoya explained that being honoured by the highest office in the country was not a crime. He wrote, “To be honoured and received by the President and the highest office in my own country for this reason is not a crime.” The 29-year-old insisted he has no political ambition and remains committed to helping children in slums access education through chess. He said, “If that ever changes, then I would resign my role as CEO of Chess in Slums Africa.”
He further said that public reactions, both positive and negative, were valid. “The anger, the hate, the love, the applause, the criticism, all of it is valid and I embrace it,” he said.
Chess work goes beyond charity
Onakoya added that his work is not about handouts but about long-term cognitive and academic impact for children in underserved areas. “We’re using chess as a tool to teach cognition,” he said. “The real impact here is ensuring they have the critical capacity to think for themselves.”
He also denied claims that his initiative thrives because of government failure. According to him, Chess in Slums has partnered with the Lagos State government in communities like Jakande and Isale Eko. He cited one success story: “One of them recently graduated from furniture school and is living again.”
‘A visit is not an endorsement’
Addressing concerns that the meeting with Tinubu was a form of support for the administration, Onakoya was clear: “A visit is not an endorsement. I will visit many more people and will continue to sell my chessboards.” He said the meeting was about sharing his plans for building the world’s largest Chess/STEM institute.
He stressed that people may misunderstand him because they only see what is shared online. “Reputation is not character,” he said. “It’s been 10 long years of staying with this one thing, so I know for a fact that I have earned the benefit of the doubt.”
Macaroni supports Onakoya amid backlash
Skit maker Debo Adebayo, known as Mr. Macaroni, also commented on the issue. While acknowledging that he has rejected political invitations, he expressed support for Onakoya, urging Nigerians to allow individuals to contribute in different ways. He said efforts to build a better Nigeria should not all look the same.
This isn’t Onakoya’s first encounter with government figures. In 2024, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, appointed him Sports Ambassador after his chess marathon in New York. During the visit to Tinubu, Onakoya presented a gold-plated Adire chessboard and his Guinness World Record certificate. Tinubu praised him, saying, “Through chess, he opens minds and transforms lives in communities that are too often overlooked.”
Tunde Onakoya defends Tinubu visit, says it’s not endorsement
Despite online reactions, Tunde Onakoya stands by his decision to visit President Tinubu. He insists it was not an endorsement but an opportunity to share a vision for transforming education through chess. The chess champion says he will continue engaging with people of influence to make a difference, even if the public misunderstands his actions.
