Chess master and social entrepreneur Tunde Onakoya has been honoured as the first African to receive the prestigious Lideramos Youth Award for Social Impact in Barcelona, Spain.
Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, shared the news on X, expressing deep gratitude for the international recognition of his work empowering children from disadvantaged communities through chess education and mentorship.
In his post, the National Chess Master revealed that he used the acceptance moment to share one of his favourite motivational parables, the story of the little hummingbird fighting a great forest fire.
Onakoya wrote, “Deeply honoured to be recognized in Barcelona, Spain, as the first African to receive the Lideramos Youth Award for Social Impact.
“I used the moment to share one of my favorite stories of the little hummingbird against the great forest fire”.
Born in the slums of Ikorodu, Lagos, Onakoya rose from humble beginnings to become a national chess master and a globally recognised advocate for using chess as a tool for education, hope, and social change among street children.
His non-profit, Chess in Slums Africa, has transformed the lives of thousands of underprivileged kids by providing access to quality education, mentorship, and opportunities they would otherwise never have.
Onakoya’s achievement adds to a growing list of accolades for his innovative work, which continues to inspire hope across the continent and beyond.
