The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Monday welcomed celebrated chess champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, to the Ile-Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, for a remarkable inter-school chess initiative titled “The King’s Move.”
Organised in collaboration with the Hopes Alive Initiative, a foundation championed by Queen Temitope Morenike Ogunwusi, the event brought together 14 secondary school students across Ile-Ife in a spirited chess contest with Onakoya.
In his address, the Ooni praised Onakoya’s grassroots chess initiative, hailing it as a transformative tool for youth empowerment and intellectual development—especially among disadvantaged children.
“I commend Tunde Onakoya for wielding the power of chess to inspire greatness. This initiative fosters critical thinking, resilience and leadership in our youth,” the monarch said, also applauding Queen Temitope and the foundation for cultivating young minds through education and innovation.
Onakoya, visibly moved by the royal reception, expressed gratitude for the support and urged the students to remain determined and focused, adding, “Chess is more than a game—it sharpens the mind and builds decision-making capacity.”
To motivate participants, the Ooni announced a ₦500,000 cash reward to be shared among the competing students. The overall winner, Toyosi Samuel of Eleve Academy, Oranfe, received a special prize of ₦100,000, while accompanying teachers were awarded a collective ₦1 million.
In total, Oba Ogunwusi disbursed ₦1.6 million, a gesture widely applauded as timely and morale-boosting. One grateful teacher described it as “a rekindling of hope for educators.”
In a symbolic climax, the Ooni presented a specially crafted artwork to Onakoya in honour of his exceptional impact on youth development through chess.
The gesture was met with heartfelt appreciation from the chess master.
