Victors Announced in Ecobank Chess Tournament
University of Lagos, DaySpring School, and Marvelvine Montessori School, all based in Lagos, have emerged as champions in the tertiary, secondary, and primary school categories respectively, at the 2024 Ecobank National Schools’ Teams Chess Competition held at the Pan African Centre.
According to a statement from the bank, the chess competition attracted over 1,200 players from more than 250 schools across 18 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Vice President of the Nigerian Chess Federation, Prince Adeyinka Adewole, expressed enthusiasm about the championship, which was introduced last year coinciding with the start of the World Schools Team Chess Championship by the International Chess Federation.
Adewole stated, “A total of 118 primary schools, 86 secondary schools, and 42 tertiary institutions participated, competing for prizes totaling over N15 million at the three-day tournament, held between Friday and Sunday at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos."
“At the conclusion of the highly competitive tournament, the University of Lagos emerged as the top team in the tertiary school category, followed by the University of Benin and Chess in Slums Africa. In the secondary school category, DaySpring School, Platforms School, and Ireti Senior Grammar School secured the first, second, and third positions respectively. In the primary school category, Marvelvine Montessori School claimed the top spot, with Scholars Academy, Ibadan, and Okikioluwa Junior School following in second and third place respectively.”
Managing Director/Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, explained that the bank's sponsorship of the chess competition was to underscore Ecobank’s commitment to supporting intellectual and sports development in Nigeria, as part of its strategic human capital development drive.
“The winners here today represent the future leaders. This sponsorship is consistent with our goal of supporting children and youths as the next generation of change-makers. It aligns with our long-term vision of building a world-class Pan-African bank that contributes to the economic and financial integration of the continent."
“We are also using this competition as an avenue to introduce and empower participants with convenient, affordable, and accessible digital financial services they can access anytime and anywhere they are. Plans are underway to make our partnership an annual event, as it is both exciting and fulfilling for the children and undergraduate students,” he added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, represented by Ms Ikana Mbora, the Director of the Federal Ministry of Sports Liaison Office in Lagos, commended the Nigerian Chess Federation for organizing the competition. He praised the students for their resilience and determination to succeed, citing it as a representation of the Nigerian can-do spirit.
The inaugural edition of the competition saw Platform Schools, Ikeja, Lagos emerge as the national champion, earning the school the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the World Schools Team Chess Championship in Kazakhstan.
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