Thousands of Students to Compete for a National Chess Championship Title

L-R: Austen Osokpor, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria; Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Prince Adeyinka Adewole, Vice President, Nigeria Chess Federation; Bukola Ademiluyi, Head, Education, Faith and Social Services, Ecobank Nigeria and Njide Ken-Odogwu, Marketing & Strategy: Sponsorship & Promotions Manager, MTN Nigeria, during the Press Conference for the Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championships, sponsored by MTN and Ecobank held at the Ecobank Pan-Atlantic Centre, Victoria Island on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Thousands of young chess enthusiasts are set to converge in Lagos for the National Schools Team Chess Championship, Nigeria’s largest inter-school chess competition, proudly sponsored by MTN Nigeria.

The championship, organised in partnership with Ecobank and the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), will take place from June 26th to 28th, 2025, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Victoria Island.

This year’s competition is expected to host an impressive 1,600 students from 400 schools across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The championship is open to students from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions and will feature team-based play, with each team comprising four players from the same school.

The stakes are high, with a significant prize pool of over N40 million. Beyond the monetary reward, winning schools will also gain the invaluable opportunity to represent Nigeria internationally.

Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at MTN Nigeria, highlighted the core essence of MTN’s support, stating, “Our investment is driven by our commitment to fostering youth development, just as our shared value initiative. By supporting, we not only contribute to the growth but also engage with the younger demographic in a meaningful way, as we believe we are good together”.

L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Prince Adeyinka Adewole, Vice President, Nigeria Chess Federation and Bukola Ademiluyi, Head, Education, Faith and Social Services, Ecobank Nigeria, during the Press Conference for the Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championships, sponsored by MTN and Ecobank held at the Ecobank Pan-Atlantic Centre, Victoria Island on Friday, June 13, 2025.

She further emphasised that the initiative aligns with MTN’s “Go M.A.D.” (Make A Difference) campaign, underscoring the company’s dedication to enabling young Nigerians to unlock their full potential through mind sports.

The championship aims to promote intellectual development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among young Nigerians. It also serves to identify and nurture future chess champions.

The event will feature the inspiring presence of Tunde Onakoya, whose journey demonstrates how chess can transform lives and build dreams, embodying the essence of MTN’s ‘Go M.A.D.’ campaign. Onakoya will be joining the championship week to share his experiences and further inspire the young participants.