7th June, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya has revealed how his father sold his car to fund his education 13 years ago.
Onakoya recalled his humble beginnings in a recent post via X while celebrating his new feat as the ambassador for a Nigerian automobile company, Nord Motion.
The chess champion disclosed that his father, Pa Onakoya Olugbenga, “sacrificed everything” and sold his taxi to pay his examination fees.
He said he would later compensate his father by gifting him his only car before traveling to the United States.
Onakoya also revealed that he was gifted a new car and made Nord’s ambassador after defeating Oluwatobi Ajayi, the firm’s CEO, in a chess match.
“Just before I traveled to America, I called my dad and gave him my only car. He had sold his taxi 13 years ago so I could pay for my WAEC and JAMB examination fees,” he wrote.
“The joy on his face brought tears — it was the least I could do for my parents who sacrificed everything so I could get an education.
“It wasn’t clear how I was going to get a new car without spending a fortune but I had faith. Yesterday, I got a call from @OluwatobiAjayiJ, the CEO of @nordmotion, inviting me to his office for a chat and a chess match.
“During our conversation, he proposed an outrageous deal: if I could beat him, I could choose any car in their showroom for free.
“Knowing he was a strong chess player from our previous game analyses (although we had never played before), I accepted the challenge. After about an hour of intense play, I managed to win from a very complex position.
“This all still feels surreal, but I’m thrilled to announce that I am now a global brand ambassador for @nordmotion motors and the proud owner of a NORD A7 suv built and assembled in Nigeria.
“Life really isn’t scripted, and I’m super grateful to be able to use my gift to inspire the world and affect lives positively.”
The ‘Chess In Slums Africa’ founder earlier revealed that his father worked as a bus conductor so they could feed and survive.
Tunde Onakoya recently broke the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever chess marathon with a time of 60 hours at Times Square in New York, United States.
He broke the record of Norwegian players, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who played for 56-hour, 9-minute in 2018.