Lagos Discovers 12 Talents At Chess Clinic

No fewer than 12 budding talents were discovered at the just concluded 3-day Chess Clinic organized by the Lagos State Chess Association for Secondary Schools in the six Education Districts in the state

The clinic was held inside the Sports Bar of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 July 2021.

During the Clinic, participants were on Day 1 and 2 exposed to the rudiments and techniques of game, different chess pieces (chess men) that included king, queen, bishop, knight, rook and pawn.

At the end of the event, no fewer than 12 talents were discovered. They included Nwanchuku Emmanuel and Nwankwo Chioma from Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior School (District 1), Bayode Daniel and Kalu Ngozi from Immaculate Heart Senior Secondary School (District 2), Bankole Joseph Feranmi from Odofin Junior Secondary School and Alli Zarah from Ajeromi Ifelodun Secondary School (District 3), Amuda Mariam and Ibrahim Mudashiru from Lagos City College (District 4).

Others are Onasanya Mutiat from Topfield Nursary and Primary School and Amansi Sameul from Ajeromi Ifelodun Secondary School (District 5) and Nasir Farida from Unity Junior Secondary School and John Nnamene from Euba Junior Secondary School (District 6).

The student espressed their appreciations to the sports commission and the organisers for the opportunity given them to showcase their talents during the school sports event.

Eleven-year-old Bankole Joseph Feranmi, from Odofin Junior Secondary School thanked the organisers for giving him the opportunity to be part of the Clinic.

“I want to thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to be part of this educative Chess Clinic because I am able to learn many things as it concerns the chess game”.

Mutiat Onasanya, an 8-year-old pupil of Topfield Nursery and Primary School, disclosed that participating in the clinic has exposed her to know more about Chess as a Sport.

“I want to say that by participating in this Clinic I am able to learn more about Chess. Thanks to the organisers for giving me the opportunity.”

Also speaking, Bayode Daniel Darasimi, a 13-year-old pupil of Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Senior High School disclosed that attending the 3-day Clinic allow him to understand the Game of chess more than before.

” I can say it categorically that my interest in Chess Game after this Clinic has increased”.

All the participants were given Chess boards and Certificates of participation after the 3-day Clinic.”

Executive chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku hinted that the talent discovered would be further groomed, as they now become part of the state’s assets in the game.

Aiyepeku, commended the organizers of the event for putting together the Clinic which according to him is the right step in the right direction, adding that the event was an introductory Clinic to let the students know what is fundamental in the game.

“The whole idea is to introduce strategic thinking into the mind of the children at early age. They are not too young; we have children from 10-12 years doing excellently well.

“We want sports associations under the supervision of the Lagos State Sports Commission to create events and introduce Clinics; everybody has different potentials to tap rather than focus on popular Sports”

“We have 44 sports associations and we are ready to work with associations who are ready to work and the Chess Association is one of them,” he said.

Honorable Adedamola Kasumu, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ikeja Constituency thanked the management of the Lagos State Sports Commission for giving the organizers of the Clinic the opportunity and for allowing the students to participate.

“This is a collaborative effort that is good for grassroots Sports development in Lagos State”.

“I love it when I see children doing sports”

He promised to sponsor more lesser Sports in Lagos State. He announced the donation of one chess board each to all the participating Students.

The Chairman, Lagos State Chess Association, Tokunboh Fagun, commended the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Sponsor, Gidi Sports and Tourism Limited for making the organization of the Clinic a reality.

“After this clinic, our next step is to expose selected Participants to competitions and that is going to happen by October this year”.

In his remarks, Moses Kolawole, Director Sports Development, Lagos State Sports Commission advised the participants to make use of the opportunity by taking keen interest in the Chess game.

“I want to advise you to take this opportunity of the Clinic very seriously as there is a future for you in Sports if combined with education”.