200 schools vie for NCF Chess Championships 

By Grace Alegba

Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Prince Adeyinka Adewole says 200 schools have registered for the forthcoming National Schools’ Team Chess Championship.

Adewole disclosed this in a statement by Austen Osokpor, Head, Corporate Affairs Department of the Ecobank Nigeria Plc, on Tuesday in Lagos.

The competition is organised by the bank in collaboration with NCF.

He appealed for mass attendance to the National Schools’ Team Chess Championship billed to begin on May 24 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria, Lagos.

Adewole said the event was open to students from primary to tertiary education level with prizes of over N15 million to be won.

The vice president said that he was impressed with the excitement and enthusiasm the competition generated among the target population.

“We are impressed with the level of interest schools are showing towards the competition judging by the registration so far.

“As we speak, over 200 schools which cut across primary, secondary, and tertiary schools from all over the country have registered for the competition.

“It’s going to be an exciting time. All arrangements are in place to make the competition exciting and fulfilling for the competitors and indeed all stakeholders.

“We encourage Nigerians from all walks of life, especially sports enthusiasts to attend the event and support teams of their choice as a way of encouraging young people to aim for the best,” he said.

According to him, Chess is more than just a game but an educational tool that enhances critical thinking, concentration, and problem solving skills.

Adewole also paid tribute to popular chess master, Tunde Onakoya, who recently broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in New York’s Times Square, United States.

He added that Onakoya’s global feat was a further proof that Chess was “not a pastime sport but a tool for social inclusion and development”.

He advised interested institutions that had not registered to do so by sending an email to: nationalschoolsteamchess@gmail.com.

“Registration is absolutely free. Take advantage of this opportunity to participate in the prestigious event.

“It will provide an enriching experience for participating students, apart from the prizes to be won, there is also an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the world chess competition,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa