Chess player and founder of Chess in Slums Africa Tunde Onakoya has become the first Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
He shared the development on social media on Sunday, stating that he achieved the milestone at the museum.
“First Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre,” he wrote.
The development comes days after he received the Lideramos Youth Award for Social Impact in Barcelona, Spain, where he became the first African to win the award.
Mr Onakoya announced the award on his X account and expressed appreciation for the recognition.
“I feel honoured to be here today. It’s my first time in Barcelona,” he said in a video.
He also spoke about his background and how chess influenced his life. He said he grew up in Lagos and discovered his ability to play chess at a young age.
He said he later used chess to support children from underserved communities through his initiative.
According to him, the programme has helped children gain access to education and opportunities.
In 2025, Tunde Onakoya gained attention after setting a record for the longest chess marathon at Times Square in New York City, where he played for 60 hours.
The event was aimed at raising funds for education programmes in Africa.
Chess in Slums Africa uses chess to support children with learning and life skills.
