ABOUT TUNDE
dreamer
social reformer
chess master
Tunde Onakoya is a dreamer, social reformer, and National chess master in Nigeria. In 2018, he founded Chess in Slums Africa, a non-profit organization using the game of chess as a tool to give children in impoverished communities access to education, technology, and mentorship.
The impact of this initiative has reached far beyond the borders of Nigeria, with over 10,000 children’s lives transformed, and hundreds receiving fully funded scholarships to local and international institutions. Stories of this initiative’s transformation have been featured on countless global media platforms including the New York Times, Associated Press, BBC, Al-Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, and many more.
Tunde Onakoya has become a symbol of hope and possibilities, inspiring good deeds in many, and demonstrating that it is possible to do great things from a small place. Born and raised in the slums of Ikorodu, Lagos, Tunde knows firsthand the struggles these children face, drawing from his own life experiences to ignite compassion in young people around the world.
Known for his zeal for storytelling, public speaking, and advocacy for untapped potential, Tunde Onakoya has shared his profound thoughts at numerous multinational institutions and on various stages, including TED talks, the Oxford Africa Conference in England, the Obama Fellowship in the USA, the House of Beautiful Business in Morocco, and the DLD Conference in Germany.
In 2023, he was listed as one of the 100 Most Impactful Africans by Ranks Africa.
More recently, Tunde Onakoya attempted and broke a world record for the longest chess marathon after playing nonstop in the heart of Times Square New York City for a daring 60 hours. This extraordinary feat has become a global phenomenon, prompting numerous goodwill messages from world leaders and establishing Tunde as one of the most influential chess players of African descent in the world.
Tunde’s efforts have earned him multiple accolades, including The Future Awards Africa Prize for Community Action, the Business Insider Award for Social Entrepreneur of the Year, the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award for Contribution to Children, World Peace, and/or Human Rights, the Trendupp Award for Force of Social Good, Leadership newspaper Social Impact Person of the Year, the Royal African Award and the Governor’s Award in Lagos State.
Tunde Onakoya remains a beacon of inspiration, ensuring that through him, the world recognizes and joins him in his duty to empower millions of children across Africa.
The Dreamer Story
Born to Nigerian parents in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. His mum was a petty trader and his dad, a bus driver. To afford Tunde's education, his mother worked as a cleaner at the elementary school he attended, exchanging her labor for his school fees.
Tunde withdrew from school at his parents' urging, sacrificing his education so his brother could have the chance to learn.
Tunde discovers chess for the first time at a barber shop in Ikorodu, Lagos.
After his aspirations of studying medicine were cut short, Tunde returned to Yaba College of Technology to pursue a National Diploma in Computer Science.
Tunde became a chess coach in his neighborhood, guiding out-of-school kids and helping them find their direction in life.
Tunde founded Chess in Slums Africa, a non-profit organization using the game of chess as a tool to give children in impoverished communities access to education, technology, and mentorship.
Tunde, alongside his Chess in Slums team, initiated a pioneering intervention that drew international attention, offering a lifeline to homeless teenagers in Oshodi Under-bridge, one of Lagos' most notorious crime areas.
Tunde is Business Insider Social Entrepreneur of the Year.
Tunde was listed as one of the 100 Most Impactful Africans by Ranks Africa.
Tunde Onakoya played a Chess competition against 10 opponents simultaneously in Munich and emerged victorious in every match.
Tunde plays chess for 60 hours nonstop in Time Square New York in an attempt to break a world record and raise $1million for impoverished children in Africa
