The Chess Boy & The Dream To Change The World: Lessons I Have Personally Learnt
We can do great things from small places
Worth Hearing
"For me, the greatest miracle of chess is in the innate ability of a PAWN [the least valuable piece] to become a QUEEN [the most valuable piece]. - Tunde Onakoya, Founder Chess In The Slums."
This is one story currently rocking the Nigeria Social Media Community.
And it's a story worth hearing. It's a story of purpose, of passion, of grit & of truth.
Of how one can do great things from small places.
The people that change the world are those who believe that the world is a place that can be changed. They always have a positive view of the world.
While others are seeing the darkness, they see the light, and as they keep looking at the light, they find out that they are becoming "living lights".
The "Chess In The Slum" Story is one every Nigerian must hear & learn from.
I have read every news article I can find about the story, and this essay is my own addition to the stories out there.
In this essay, I have included the wisdom that I have gleaned from that story.
I am sharing it with my readers, but my focus is on the young men & women in Nigeria who keep on complaining about the present condition of Nigeria.
It's not what your country can do for you, it's what you can do for your country. The truth in these words is perfectly captured in the "Chess In The Slums story".
It's a story of hope, of how rocks become diamonds.
Who would have ever thought that those kids picked up from the dirtiest of places in a Nigerian slum will ever be able to become masters of a game & most importantly masters of their lives & destinies, because one man dared to dream?
He dared to dream a big dream and he did not keep it in his sleep, he woke up with it and ran hard with it.
"Chess in Slums Africa is a volunteer driven non-profit organization which aims to transform impoverished communities and empower its young ones by using the game of chess as a framework to teach academic skills, critical thinking, and a lifelong appreciation for learning."
The Bridges That Connect Us
In Lagos State, Nigeria, some places are designated for the poor of the poor. Not by the government, but by providence.
Water will flow through any space that you give it. These folks have found houses under the bridges, in deserted buildings, in open spaces, markets & anywhere that can accommodate a living body.
There was a time that I walked down a path close to where I live with a brother.
We went out for a little evangelism, to invite the folks around to our local Church, and I saw some small shanties, looking like houses built for domestic livestock, like goats, chicken & turkey, and this brother, who knew Lagos more than me, said "Those places are where people live", I was shocked.
I had never seen a thing like that in my life.
As we walked further down, I saw people crawl into these spaces they call home.
I could not believe my eyes, as I write this, the image of those people is stuck to my mind.
I asked myself questions - how can human beings live in places like these?
I was grateful for the place where I had to lay my head. You will be extremely grateful when you see the situation of some people.
You will stop complaining & start thanking God.
These places are even better when compared to under the bridges.
How do people live under bridges?
It's so difficult to believe until you see it with your own eyes, and feel it with your own heart.
A man saw this, and he did not just look away like some of our politicians & "big people" do in Nigeria when they see things like these.
He is no multi-billionaire, he's just an ordinary fellow who has a strong heart & a brain.
What great things we can do when we combine money, brain & heart.
Nigeria, what great things we can actually do.
Chess, Maths & Brains In Slums
"Over 80 million Nigerians live in poverty "
These children live under the worse of conditions. There is no proper heating or protection from the elements.
They do all sorts of things to keep body & soul together.
You can find them in refuse dumps scavenging, looking for leftovers in the City wastes.
They have become urchins, what we call "area boys & girls."
Sometimes they even go as far as stealing and getting involved in doing horrible things just to survive.
It's like the wild, the only difference is that there are no Lions & Hyenas - just young boys & girls.
Do they fall sick? Yes, they do. If they fall sick, who attends to them? I can only imagine.
But right here, in these places, one can find this kind of talent.
It amazes me...
They may have broken bodies, and may not have places to sleep or what to eat or wear, nonetheless, their spirits are intact.
Their brains are still working, and their souls are as bright as the sun.
Someone discovered this energy & decided to channel it.
An Angel Came By
Tunde Onakoya, the Angel bearing the light is the man who God used to bring hope to a community that had no hope.
When I see the pictures of the children who have been transformed by this initiative, I always feel a light glow in my heart.
It fills me with joy. I see that Nigeria still has a future.
Most of these children never intended to live under the bridge.
Some of them left their various homes in other states & found themselves under the bridge in Lagos.
They were hit hard by life, they had to survive, and survive they did.
Changing lives, one piece at a time
From The Slum To The World
What started about two years ago, is metamorphosing into a movement.
A movement that has drawn the attention of notable international media personalities, countries & international organizations.
Recently, Paris Hilton an American businesswoman, pioneer in television & podcasting, innovator, and founder of Paris Hilton Entertainment [now known as 11:11 media, a multi-billion dollar company] responded to a Tweet by Onakoya.
The Tweets of Paris Hilton in response to Onakoya's humanitarian service to his community look like they come from a heart that will be interested in what "Chessinslums" is doing.
By that one encounter on Twitter, the business mogul has opened that initiative to more possibilities on a global scale.
What about the partnership with Chess.com, the largest Chess platform on the planet, with over 50 million dedicated members?
Since September 2021, Chesskid.com the scholastic branch of Chess.com has partnered with Chess in Slums - Africa to provide kids with what they need to master the game of chess - utilizing chess as an agent of societal change through acquiring the passion for life-long learning.
See what the CEO of Chesss.com has to say about the new partnership:
“I am a strong believer that chess can be a force for good. Chess is more than a game—it is a conduit through which people can connect, grow, and learn. Chess in Slums is a perfect example of this; the impact and change we can create for these children will be felt throughout the course of their lives.”
The work of Tunde Onakoya has been featured on BBC, TheGuardian, & a couple of notable global media organizations.
"The Chess in Slums initiative carries a powerful vision to promote chess education across the African continent. It is said that talent is universal but opportunity isn't.
This is not just about chess and its amazing benefits --this is also about rekindling the hopes and dreams of the African Child." - Tunde Onakoya, CIS founder.
There's no stopping the effects of this ripple.
I see a lot of other initiatives gaining energy from this one singular move of a man with a heart for change.
Other innovators will see what Tunde is doing and from his courage, they will start their own journey to change the world one piece at a time.
"With this incredible partnership with ChessKid, we can expand our horizons and give the children living in remote communities access to the best training resource to help them become chess champions. This also affords them the opportunity to engage the use of technology and the internet to connect to the world beyond the confines of their community." Tunde Onakoya, CIS Founder.
Saved By Chess
Like Tunde himself, who was saved by chess. Many other children now have the same testimony that he once had about how the game of chess illuminated his path.
And these children are all becoming light-bearers to the world.
They will take this gospel of hope to where ever they find themselves on the face of the earth.
I can imagine the scenario twenty years from now.
How the kids who have benefitted from the obedience of one man who dared to dream will talk to people who come to hear their stories.
"It was chess who saved me", they will say, "through that man..." And what a wonder it will be, because the effect would have reached far & wide.
What Will You Do?
I have never really been a fan of the game of chess, but I have admired it from a distance, I think now might be the right time to learn it, not just for the fun, but to see what it might have in store for me.
I think you should also do the same. You can create a profile with Chess.com here and start your journey.
While reading & preparing this essay, I could feel that the belief I had in my country Nigeria received new life.
In life, there are people who decide to remain on the ground and there are people who will stop at nothing until they begin to soar with the eagles.
What will you do?
The destiny of a generation may be hanging on your single decision to believe in your dreams & run with them.
Nigeria is a country that has the potential to change its situation. The solution to our problems will not come from The United States of America, France, or China.
We are the ones who will solve our problems.
And until we start to look within we may never be able to get to the promised land.
Here are a couple of external links that will give you other perspectives to this story. Kindly check them out, I know you will find them helpful:
And this wonderful interview with Piggyvest.
I write essays & articles that cover leadership & innovation. I am also a sold-out son to the gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ.
If you want me to work with you on your writing projects, you can find me on Twitter or send me an email, I will be happy to work with you.
I also blog here & here [these are personal blogs]. You can also catch up with me on Medium.
Thank you for taking out time to read.
This is the best chess in the slum story I've read so far.
Indeed, great things can happen anywhere.
Thank you sir for this wonderful composition that will concretize hope in the minds of the mundane.