Chess in Slums commits to children’s educational development

A non-governmental organisation, Chess in Slums Africa, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and promoting initiatives aimed at developing children’s education in the country, noting that the move is aimed at giving every child the opportunity to reach full potential.

The Chief Operations Officer, Emmanuel Abiodun Oke, at this year’s chess for education, which is usually celebrated every Children’s day, said the event was to celebrate the power of education, beauty of chess, and the limitless potential of children.

He maintained that education is the cornerstone of progress, and through Chess for Education, it is igniting a spark of curiosity and intellectual growth in children.

In his words: “We are empowering them with skills that will shape their future, preparing them to conquer any challenge that lies ahead. In this room, we have gathered brilliant minds, future leaders, and chess prodigies from the various Chess in Slums centres. Today, we embark on a journey that goes beyond the 64 squares of a chessboard. We believe that chess is not just a game; it is an instrument of empowerment, a catalyst for critical thinking, and a tool that fosters resilience and strategic decision-making.”

To the young chess enthusiasts, Oke charged them to remember that the power to change the world lies within them, encouraging them to believe in their abilities, embrace the lessons learned from every game and deploy the strategies gotten from the board to transform their lives.

“We have children from various backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. Chess knows no boundaries; it transcends language, age, and social status. It unites us, teaches us valuable life lessons, and creates lifelong friendships. Together, we are breaking barriers and building bridges towards a more inclusive and equitable world,” he said.

He urged every chess enthusiast to embrace the spirit of curiosity, perseverance and sportsmanship.

Head, Digital and Social Media Corporate Communications and Branding, LAPO Microfinance Bank, Adelekun Olufisayo, said it partnered the organisation in line with the bank’s commitment to empower the marginalised part of the society.

“The Chess in Slums initiative is one that caught our attention, so we looked for ways to engage with them to ensure that children from the marginalised part of the society have a shot at a sustainable future. This initiative really speaks to what we are about as a bank, so, it was not hard for us to come on board, not just to sponsor the event, but to see how these kids can have a shot in the near future through our scholarship initiatives moving forward,” he said.

He stated that education is key to achieving a bright future for any nation, calling on the Federal Government to support initiatives such as the Chess for education to put Nigeria on the right path to economic growth and development.

Another key sponsor, Burger King Nigeria, through its Associate Brand Manager, Alimot Abdulrasaq, said the event was a beautiful programme to be part of, saying that it was in line with the company’ slogan: “Have it your way”, pointing out that it is very exciting to see the children having it their ways regardless of their socioeconomic status in the society.

The Brand Marketing Executive, Bukka Hut, Precious Caius, said the organisation was committed to supporting programmes aimed at transforming lives, saying that supporting educative programmes such as this would help it achieve its desired goal of transforming lives in the society.