Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appointed Mr. Tunde Onakoya, the National Master of Chess and the Guinness World Record Holder for the longest Chess Marathon, as the Sports Ambassador of the State.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a meeting between Governor Abiodun and Mr. Onakoya at the governor’s office in Abeokuta.
Governor Abiodun praised Mr. Onakoya’s achievements, highlighting his determination, resilience, and hard work.
He noted that Mr. Onakoya’s success serves as an inspiration to many young people across Nigeria. The governor also commended Mr. Onakoya for establishing the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ foundation, aimed at uplifting children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
As part of the honor, Governor Abiodun announced the commencement of the Ogun State Chess Competition, to be held in all parts of the state.
The governor expressed confidence that Ogun State would host the best National Sports Festival ever, scheduled to take place in about nine months, with chess being one of the featured games.
Governor Abiodun revealed that the state would sponsor the Tunde Onakoya Prize for the winner of the Ogun State Chess Competition.
He entrusted Mr. Onakoya with designing the competition, extending the competition from the local government to the state level.
Mr. Onakoya expressed his gratitude for the support he received from Nigerians on his journey to success, stating that he was proud to be Nigerian.
He recalled facing challenges while growing up but saw chess as a means to escape poverty and develop critical thinking skills.
The governor praised Mr. Onakoya for achieving international recognition without resorting to dubious activities, noting that his success reflects the potential of Nigerian youth.
He hailed Mr. Onakoya as an illustrious son of Ogun State who has made the state proud.
In his remarks, Mr. Onakoya expressed pride in his Nigerian and Ogun State heritage, thanking Nigerians worldwide for their support.
He also thanked Governor Abiodun and the state’s royal fathers for the honor bestowed upon him.
Governor Abiodun’s appointment of Mr. Tunde Onakoya as the Sports Ambassador of Ogun State and the initiation of the Ogun State Chess Competition underscore the state government’s commitment to promoting sports and recognizing outstanding achievements in the field.
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