Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole, has urged greater support for Nigerian chess talent through expanded international competition and sponsorship. Speaking in a recent interview, Adewole stressed that while Nigeria leads in West Africa, the country must broaden its global engagement to compete with Africa’s best and beyond.
“We are proud in West Africa today because we believe we have high ratings. But in the whole of Africa, we are not there yet,” Adewole explained.
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To bridge that gap, Adewole proposed two key strategies:
Host International Tournaments in Nigeria
By organizing high‑rated events—featuring titled players such as International Masters and Grandmasters—Nigeria can attract top talent to Lagos, Abuja, and other cities. Adewole emphasized the importance of offering “good prizes, good playing conditions, and so on” to draw elite competitors.
“We need to play internationally. when I say internationally, we, as Nigeria, organize international tournaments where you have people with high ratings. Usually, they are title player, international masters, and grandmasters, and invite them to the country. They are need for a lot of attractions. You need to motivate them with good prices, good playing conditions and so on like that in order for them to come.”
Sponsor Elite Players to Compete Abroad
Recognizing the expense involved, Adewole called for corporate and governmental backing to send Nigeria’s top-ranked players to tournaments in Europe, the UK, and the United States.
“If we cannot afford to have an international tournament in Nigeria, have a set of elite players, send them abroad, send them to maybe Europe, the UK, and the US to go and play,” he said.
Adewole’s recommendations come as Nigerian chess enjoys strong performances at regional events, but still seeks the broader experience necessary to challenge in continental and world championships. With targeted investment and increased opportunities, he believes Team Nigeria can rise to meet—and surpass—the global standard.
