Sports

9-year old emerges best in chess competition

Published

5 years ago

November 11, 2021

A nine-year old boy, Chukuemeka Chukwurah, has clinched the best in the primary school chess competition organised by the Christabel School, Wuye in Abuja on Thursday.

The tournament, tagged “Chess Brain Box” gathered competitors from different schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to elevate critical thinking for real life problem solving.

Chukwurah, a pupil of Christabel School, who contested among pupils from other primary schools, said the chess game helped in the mental and emotional development of children.

“I feel so elated to have won this competition. I have been practising the game with the help of my parents who motivated me in learning the game.

“Chess is a game of the mind. It increases the emotional and mental ability of the one who plays it and also helps one to make good decisions in life,” he said.

Speaking after declaring open the maiden edition of the tournament, the Director of Operations, Christabel Schools, Mrs Mokuolu Olumi, said Chess game was critical to the brain development of any child.

Olumi said it also helped to train their minds in decision making and increase their mental alertness needed for global leadership.

According to her, chess is more than just a sport. The Chess game is necessary to raise generation of young people who can think outside the box and develop innovations for problem solving.

“We are organising this event as our own contribution towards raising quality leaders of tomorrow.

“Chess helps to train the mind of learners in decision making and increases the mental alertness of learners making them set for global leadership as it helps them to be more critical in thinking, focus in discipline and leap them forward.

“It is in line with our goals to create competitions like this, to help other young learners across the FCT in particular and Nigeria to develop skills that will promote excellence,” she said.
She, therefore, called on the Federal Government to infuse chess into the school curriculum to make the young ones productive academically, while also investing in the education of the voiceless.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was the first of its kind by the school to raise excellent leaders.

The second best in the competition goes to Malik Makanjuola, a pupil of Vine Care School, Gaduwa, Apo while Edikanabasi Okolo of Christabel School came third in the competition.
For the junior secondary category, Osaze Aibangbe emerged as 1st position; Chimaroke Okoroafor took the 2nd position while 3rd position goes to Ronald Ojo, all from Christabel Schools. (NAN)

Share on Facebook

Sports

Nigeria Targets Grassroots Sports Revival as Tinubu’s Aide Adeboye Unveils National Sports Grassroots Summit

Published

9 hours ago

November 5, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeboye Adeyinka, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of grassroots sports development in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to prioritise youth empowerment, education and national development alongside medals and trophies.

Adeyinka stated this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference while announcing the 2026 National Grassroots Sports Summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The summit, with the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” is expected to bring together government officials, sports administrators, state and local government representatives, private-sector investors, development partners, coaches, athletes and other stakeholders.

The presidential aide stressed that sports development must be measured not only by international achievements but also by the number of young Nigerians whose lives are positively transformed through participation in sports.

He noted that while sporting excellence could lead some athletes to Olympic medals and World Cup glory, sports also offered millions of young people opportunities for education, personal development, employment and social inclusion.

“Sometimes, when we discuss sports development, we speak about stadiums, trophies, medals and international competitions.

“But I want us to remember that at the heart of every sporting achievement is a human being,” Adeyinka said.

He explained that participation in sports could help young Nigerians secure university scholarships, develop discipline, build confidence, acquire life skills and stay away from negative influences.

According to him, sports should be recognised as an important instrument for building character, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for young people, irrespective of their backgrounds.

On talent identification, Adeyinka expressed concern that Nigeria continues to lose potential sporting talents because many children lack access to adequate facilities, qualified coaches, encouragement and organised talent-discovery programmes.

He emphasised the need for an inclusive grassroots sports system that would provide equal opportunities for children in rural communities, public schools, underserved areas and different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The presidential aide maintained that a child’s sporting prospects should not be determined by geographical location, family background or connections to influential individuals.

He warned that without a coordinated approach to identifying and nurturing young talents, the country could continue to miss opportunities to discover future champions.

Adeyinka said the forthcoming summit was designed to develop a sustainable national framework for identifying, nurturing and supporting sporting talents across the 774 local government areas.

He added that the gathering would seek practical solutions to the challenges affecting grassroots sports administration rather than focus solely on speeches and ceremonial activities.

A major objective, he explained, was to move away from fragmented talent-discovery initiatives towards a coordinated national structure connecting school and community competitions with clubs, national competitions and international sporting opportunities.

The two-day summit will deliberate on five key areas: sports participation, talent development, infrastructure, the sports economy and international pathways.

Adeyinka expressed optimism that the recommendations from the summit would provide a roadmap for strengthening grassroots sports development, expanding youth participation and positioning sports as a viable contributor to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

He called on relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and work collectively towards building a sustainable grassroots sports system capable of identifying and developing talents across the country.

Share on Facebook