Tunde Onakoya, Nigeria’s celebrated chess champion, has shared an inspiring story about two brothers he adopted after the tragic loss of their mother, and how one of them, Jamiu, went on to claim victory at a chess championship in the United States.
Onakoya, who has long used chess to empower underprivileged children, met Jamiu and his brother Ayomide in 2018 when they were living in the impoverished area of Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos.
In an Instagram post, Onakoya recalled, “I met Jamiu in 2018. He was a smart, inquisitive child working as a roadside mechanic. I invited him and his brother Ayomide to our weekend chess academy.”
As he grew close to the brothers, Onakoya visited their home, where he encountered their mother, a kind woman who had lost a leg in an accident while scavenging for plastic bottles to feed her children. Onakoya reflected, “She never received medical attention because they couldn’t afford it. Their father had abandoned them shortly after Jamiu was born.”
In 2019, Onakoya recounted, the boys’ mother fell gravely ill and made an emotional request: “She cried, asking me to look after her boys if anything happened to her. Two weeks later, she passed away.”
This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Onakoya’s fatherly role in their lives. He took the brothers in, enrolled them in school, and nurtured Jamiu’s chess talent. Jamiu went on to become a chess champion, while Ayomide, a promising track and field athlete, is now in his final year of secondary school.
Seven years later, Jamiu achieved a remarkable feat by winning the ICN Chess Championship in New York, defeating over 200 USCF-rated players and earning a $500 scholarship.
Onakoya expressed his pride, saying, “Today, my heart is full of joy. I fought back tears because I am so proud of you, Jamiu. Mama Jamiu, your boys are doing well. I kept my promise.”
