Tunde Onakoya, Nigeria’s chess maestro and the visionary behind Chess in Slums, has shared a touching tale of triumph and fatherhood. Known for empowering underprivileged children through chess, Onakoya revealed how one of his adopted sons, Jamiu, recently clinched a chess championship in the United States—a moment that left him brimming with pride.
Onakoya’s journey with Jamiu and his brother Ayomide began in 2018 in the slums of Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos. “I met Jamiu,” he wrote on social media. “A curious, brilliant kid, full of light, working as a roadside mechanic. I invited him and Ayomide to our weekend chess academy.” As their bond deepened, Onakoya visited their home and met their mother—a resilient woman who had lost her leg in an accident while scavenging plastic bottles to support her sons. Abandoned by her husband after Jamiu’s birth, she raised the boys alone, unable to afford medical care.
In 2019, her health took a devastating turn. Onakoya recalled her tearful plea: “She asked me to care for her boys if anything happened to her.” Two weeks later, she passed away. “That day, I became a father,” he said. The brothers moved in with him, returned to school, and began to thrive. Jamiu emerged as a chess prodigy and is now pursuing a university degree, while Ayomide excels in track and field, nearing the end of secondary school.
Seven years after their paths first crossed, Jamiu achieved a stunning victory. Onakoya announced that Jamiu won the ICN Chess Championship in New York, besting over 200 USCF-rated players and securing a $500 scholarship. “My heart is overwhelmed with joy,” Onakoya wrote. “I fought back tears today because I am so proud of you. Mama Jamiu, your boys are doing well. I kept my promise—and I always will.”
From the slums of Lagos to a chessboard in New York, Jamiu’s success is a testament to Onakoya’s unwavering commitment to transforming lives, one move at a time.
Today, my heart is overwhelmed with a joy words can barely hold. I think the time is finally right to share this story…
In 2018, I met Jamiu. He was a curious kid, brilliant and full of light. At the time, he was working as a roadside mechanic in the slums of Majidun, Ikorodu.… pic.twitter.com/7iR3zoluGG— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) April 7, 2025
