Ecobank Nigeria Limited is spearheading efforts to nurture young chess talents across the country through its partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation on the National Schools Chess Championship.
Speaking ahead the third edition of the tournament, the bank’s Segment Head of Education, Faith-Based and Social Services, Adekunle Adewuyi, said the initiative reflects Ecobank’s commitment to youth development and capacity building across Africa.
He described chess as a critical tool for intellectual growth, noting that it enhances strategic thinking, concentration, and decision-making skills among students.
“Chess develops IQ and prepares young people for leadership roles. That is why Ecobank is committed to sustaining this initiative,” he said.
Adewuyi disclosed that participation in the competition has grown steadily, from about 1,210 students in its first edition to over 1,600 in the second, with expectations of even higher turnout this year.
He added that the bank is exploring internship opportunities for top-performing participants, aimed at exposing them to professional environments and grooming them for future careers.
Also speaking, Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Prince Adeyinka Adewole Samuel, said the championship aligns with global standards set by FIDE, which encourages countries to organise school-level competitions.
According to him, the tournament now focuses on players aged seven to eighteen, targeting primary and secondary school students as part of efforts to develop future grandmasters.
Prince Adeyinka said about 150 primary and 150 secondary schools are expected to participate, with each fielding five players, bringing total participation to approximately 1,500 students across about 15 states, with a total prize pool of 20 million naira.
According to him, measures have also been put in place to ensure transparency in player eligibility and improve event management, including better crowd control and the deployment of 50 trained arbiters.
He noted that the initiative has already yielded results, with Nigerian participants excelling at continental competitions, including a gold medal performance in Uganda.
The federation also revealed that Nigeria is set to host the FIDE World Chess Blitz and Rapid Championship in August 2026 in Abuja, marking the first time an African country will stage the global event.
In his goodwill message, representative of the co-sponsor and Head of Marketing at SchoolMate Nigeria, Mr Ambesh Kumar expressed readiness to sustain support for the game, while charging participants to give their all and embrace the spirt of sportmanship.
The championship, scheduled to hold in Lagos between May 7 and 8, will feature both primary and secondary school categories, with each school fielding a team of five players.
The primary school event will take place on May 7, followed by the secondary school competition. Matches will be played in a six-round Swiss format, with each round lasting approximately 25 minutes under rapid time control rules.
Winners in the secondary school category will receive 2.5 million naira, while the primary school champions will take home 2 million naira, alongside trophies and gold medals.
Individual board prizes will also be awarded to outstanding players across all five boards.
