“We have done it”: Tinubu congratulates new world chess record holder, Onakoya

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Tunde Onakoya who created a new world chess record.

He commended him for sounding the gong of Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity at the square of global acclaim.

Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon on Saturday, after playing for over 58 hours and winning every match.

The President hailed the Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for the rare feat, especially for the reason driving this compelling demonstration of character, which is raising funds for African children to learn and find opportunity through chess.

The President said Onakoya has shown a streak customary among Nigeria’s youth population, the audacity to make good change happen; to baffle impossibility, and propel innovations and solutions to the nation’s challenges, even from corners of disadvantage.

He affirmed that Nigeria’s youths have demonstrated in all fields, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, the pulsating skit-making enterprise, education, science, and technology, that great exploits can truly come from small quarters.

Tinubu assured all citizens that his administration remains strongly committed to creating and expanding opportunities for the youth to explore and exercise their abilities and become the symbols of greatness our nation represents into the future.

Nigeria’s chess grandmaster Tunde Onakoya reached the 58th hour of his attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous chess-playing session.

Recall in 2018, Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad set the previous Guinness World Record at 56 hours and 9 minutes.

Onakoya made this known on his X account in the early hours of Saturday. Sharing a photo with the record broken inscribed on it, Onakoya wrote, “We have done it.” “We’re pushing to 60 hours, guys. We’re not stopping yet. Let’s keep going. “We have a fundraising goal to meet for the education of African children around the world. This is our why – the reason we are doing this.

“Let’s demonstrate to the world the incredible power of love. Together, we can make this happen.”