FirstBank Sponsors ChessMasters 2026 School Tournament

FirstBank has announced its strategic sponsorship of the ChessMasters 2026 School Tournament, Africa's largest school chess tournament, in partnership with Eko Hotels and KEY Academy. The official announcement was made during a press conference, with the tournament set to take place on March 16, 2026, at Eko Hotels in Lagos.

The event targets primary school pupils aged 6 to 11, aiming to provide children across Nigeria with opportunities to develop modern educational skills and foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, emphasized the bank's commitment to nurturing talent and strengthening communities through this initiative.

The tournament is expected to feature 150 schools and around 700 students, with a total prize pool of N10 million. The partnership reflects FirstBank's long-standing tradition of supporting sports development in Nigeria, aligning with its sustainability pillars focused on education and community engagement.