Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, along with millions of Nigerians at home and abroad, has thrown his support behind renowned chess master Tunde Onakoya as he endeavors to surpass the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon at Times Square in New York.
Onakoya announced the commencement of the marathon via his X account on Wednesday, with the caption “Game time,” stating, “We haven’t even started yet and Nigerians are already trooping into camp out with me.”
In a tweet from his X handle on Thursday, Atiku expressed his backing for Onakoya’s quest to break new ground. He wrote: “Dear @Tunde_OD, I join millions of Nigerians at home and abroad in wishing you the best in your quest to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Chess Marathon. Your can-do spirit thus far has been truly inspirational. I am rooting for you to break new ground. -AA.”
Likewise, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also endorsed Onakoya’s endeavor to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon. On X, he stated, “Every grand victory starts with a single, bold move akin to a daring gambit—a bold move to redefine possibilities. @Tunde_OD; Lagos is rooting for you as you attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon at Times Square in the heart of New York. Taking the story of the phenomenal work you started in Lagos with young children to a global stage is a powerful testament to how greatness can emerge from anywhere.”