Tunde Onakoya

Dear dreamer ❤️

Here’s to helping every lost child find their place in the world again❤️ Tournament sponsored by @octafx_worldwide

On day two of the @dldconference , I played a simultaneous chess match against 10 players at once. After an almost two hour battle of wits ,I managed to win all the games. The Chess exhibition helped us raise enough money to support the education of 100 children in our academy. One of the toughest opponents I played during this match holds a PhD in Mathematical logic, was Chairman of the United Nations security council and a former Bulgarian foreign minister. It was a hard game. He came up to me after the match and we had such a lovely conversation afterwards. The beauty of chess really is in the way it connects us as a universal language regardless of our background. I definitely made the kids proud with this one.

On this International Day of the Boy Child, we join the global community in reflecting on a truth that is often overlooked but urgent: boys don’t just grow, they bloom and thrive when they are intentionally nurtured, guided, and given space to become. At CISA, we understand that every boy carries within him potential shaped not only by talent but also by environment. A boy who is heard learns confidence. A boy who is guided learns discipline. A boy who is trusted learns responsibility. And a boy who is intentionally supported learns how to turn possibility into purpose. Too often, young boys are expected to “figure it out” without the structures that help them do so in healthy ways. But thriving does not happen by chance. It is created and built through safe spaces where expression is encouraged, through opportunities that stretch their abilities and consistent mentorship that reminds them that their growth matters. To bloom is to be seen beyond behaviour and into potential. To thrive is to be equipped not just for survival, but for impact. This is why intentional investment in boys is not optional; it is foundational to building stronger families, communities, and futures. Today, we celebrate every boy who is learning, unlearning, and growing into who he is meant to be. We also reaffirm our commitment to continue creating environments where boys are not limited by circumstance, but empowered by opportunity to flourish. Happy International Day of the Boy Child 🎤: @peacemyks #ChessInSlumsAfrica #UnveilingRoyaltyInEveryChild #ChessInNigeria #TundeOnakoya #internationaldayoftheboychild

World record. Global attention. Bank loan. One chess board sold. Here’s what Tunde Onakoya learned. 💡 Comment link to get the episode sent to your DM. #growththroughfailure #tundeonakoya #chessinslums #entrepreneurship TosinTaiwo

“The river should not be scared of disappearing into the ocean but instead be excited to become of the ocean.” @tunde_onakoya on Kahlil Gibran, on surrender, on what it means to stop fighting the size of your own life. Full interview now on YouTube. Link in bio.

March 14, 2025. New York City. Our first entry of Diary of an African comes from @tunde_onakoya "It doesn't matter how good you are, you'll always lose sometimes. The most important thing is to never lose the lesson." A National chess master. A World Record Holder. A kid from the slums of Lagos who never stopped moving his pieces. Episode 1. Diary of an African. 🎬 📽️ Production: Kwandinobva | DP: @cullensframes

Tunde Onakoya for the debut issue of Gravitas. “It is possible to do great things from a small place.” It’s more than a catchphrase; for @tunde_onakoya , it is a proven reality. From the chessboards of Ikorodu to the global stage, Tunde has shown the world that origin does not define destination. But what does it look like to maintain that same spirit when the rooms get bigger and the stakes get higher? In the Jardin du Luxembourg, we sat down with the man behind the movement to discuss faith, the burden of visibility, and his mission to build systems that scale. We explore the transition from the “small place” to the global stage, and why, for a knight, the move is always forward. Creative Direction & photography - @cassidyvelmech Editor - @attorneyf Fashion - Jhavis @perk_ins_ Assists - @kikivhn The Undercurrent begins now. 🔗 Read the full feature on Substack (Link in bio). 🎥 Film drops on YouTube Thursday 7pm #Gravitas #TundeOnakoya #ChessInSlums #Paris #Undercurrent

Undercurrent with @tunde_onakoya @gravvitazz

As a child growing up in a public school in Mastic Beach, NY #earthday was highly theoretical, with little practical application. Recently alongside @tunde_onakoya @tyronedavisiii and our global team from @thegiftofchess we traveled to Kenya, where we launched our 1st micro manufacturing facility, transforming plastic waste into our custom made @thegiftofchess chess sets. It’s a small gesture with great symbolism. So today on earth day, we celebrate turning plastic waste into recycled chess sets that will expand access to chess education into schools, prisons and refugee communities globally. We have launched our 1sf factory in Kibera Kenya, with our 2nd factory planned for Goma, DRC. Today we invite you to bring a recycled plastic chess set into your home. With a donation of 250 USD we will kindly ship these chess sets across the USA. 100 percent of the proceeds will fund the expansion of our micro factories that cost approximately 12,500 USD to set up. We only have 50 total sets so act fast :) To purchase email [email protected] Yours truly, Coach Russ

First Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre 🇫🇷-The world’s most prestigious museum. They should probably hang this Agbada in the Louvre as well😅 Shot and edited by the incredibly talented @anishmediaintl Styled by my amazing brother @bayo.adeniyi_ . None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you Special thanks to my good man @attorneyf and the genius @cassidyvelmech . We created magic with the photography and I can’t wait to share them with the world.

On this day exactly 2 years ago, I set out to break a world record with New York legend @pushingpawnsnyc . A moment that changed my entire world and opened my life to endless imagination and possibility. Today, I am filled with gratitude, and still deeply committed to wonder. To dreaming. To doing great things from small places. Happy world record anniversary ❤️ And thank you to @cullensframes for taking the time to film this beautiful video.