The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has appointed Tunde Onakoya the state’s Sports Ambassador following his new world record of a 60-hour Chess Marathon at Times Square in New York.
Governor Abiodun disclosed this on Thursday, 25th, 2024, after he received the Ogun-State-born Chess Master in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He also hinted at a soon-to-commence state chess competition in his honour.
Impressed with Onakoya’s achievement on the global stage, the governor said it was possible only with determination, resilience, and hard work.
I can see why you continue to be an inspiration to many young people across the length and breadth of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and future,” he said.
“Today, we will officially appoint you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts, and we are boasting about hosting the best festival that has ever been held in the history of this country and chess is one of the games that will be featured at that event,” he added.
The governor said the state plans to begin its chess competition: “I have decided that we will start an Ogun State Chess Competition across the state because of you and in your honour. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government to the state level.
But we, as your state, will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize for the competition winner,” the governor stated.
While Governor Abiodun appointed Onakoya as the face of Sports in Ogun State, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has also stated that he will support him in ensuring every child gets an education in Lagos.
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