Tunde Onakoya Launches Lagos International Chess Festival

Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and a Guinness (NGX: GUINNESS) World Record titleholder, announced the Lagos International Chess Festival on Saturday, October 10, at the Mikano Motors showroom in Lagos, coinciding with his birthday celebration. The festival, scheduled for October 2027, aims to transcend traditional chess tournaments and introduce the game to a broader audience.

Onakoya expressed his desire to inspire people to play chess, highlighting its intellectual benefits and its ability to connect individuals. The festival will feature a chess and art exhibition, a large-scale tournament for children, matches between grandmasters, and a celebrity chess tournament.

Additionally, organizers plan to incorporate a chess and fashion event and a unique chess experience on a boat, reflecting Lagos's waterways. The festival's visual identity will incorporate elements of the Eyo masquerade and the shape of a rook, symbolizing the vibrant culture of Lagos.