Across Africa, today’s child carries not only the weight of inherited challenges but the fierce potential to transform them. In the heart of Lagos’ most overlooked communities, brilliance is quietly blooming — not in grand classrooms but on the uneven floors of slums where hope is often dimmed. Here, a quiet revolution is taking place, turning pawns into queens and kings, and impossibility into promise.
Building tomorrow’s greatness starts with investing in more than just education. We must invest in dignity, access, opportunity, and belonging. The seeds of greatness can be sown by the programs that teach logic and leadership, the mentors who spark courage, and the communities that believe that brilliance can come from anywhere.
To commemorate this African Child’s Day, we sat down with the minds behind Chess in Slums Africa in this exclusive feature, to explore the journey, challenges, and what it truly takes to groom Africa’s future icons from forgotten corners of society.
Grooming greatness in the African child requires more than talent. It demands commitment, patience, and belief. In what ways has it reshaped your own understanding of education, equity, and purpose?

The African child holds immense, often untapped, potential — far greater than the world is willing to acknowledge. At Chess in Slums Africa, we exist to unlock that potential by using chess as a transformative tool for education, empowerment, and social inclusion. Our work sits at the intersection of education reform, poverty alleviation, and youth development — reaching children who live in some of Africa’s most marginalized communities, including those completely excluded from formal education systems.
What we do goes beyond teaching chess. We design immersive learning experiences where children who have never held a pencil or entered a classroom can learn strategy, literacy, and critical thinking through a game that fosters cognitive excellence. We provide access to mentorship, psychosocial support, and scholarship opportunities — building not just skills, but self-worth.
This work has completely reshaped our understanding of education as a tool for equity, not just instruction. We’ve learned that education is not truly equitable until it reaches the forgotten child — the one under the bridge, in the slum, or battling disabilities — and tells them you matter too.
And perhaps most profoundly, it has deepened our sense of purpose. Every child we serve reminds us that belief can be revolutionary. That with the right investment of time, love, and opportunity, greatness can rise from the most unlikely places.
We are not just grooming talent — we are reclaiming futures and restoring dignity to children the world tried to forget.
Many of your scholars come from backgrounds that society often overlooks. What does it take to truly unlock a child’s brilliance when the world sees them as invisible?

It takes belief — consistent, radical belief.
For many children in underserved communities, what they lack most isn’t just access to quality education or basic resources — it’s someone who genuinely believes in their potential. These children grow up surrounded by limiting narratives: that they are products of their environment, that success is reserved for others, that poverty defines them.
At Chess in Slums Africa, we confront this invisibility with intentionality. We enter communities society has ignored — from slums and under bridges to remote areas — and use chess as a powerful tool to spark cognitive development, build literacy, and inspire discipline. We pair that with mentorship, mental health support, and pathways to education through scholarships and partnerships.
When a child is seen, heard, and challenged intellectually — often for the first time — a transformation begins. They start to see themselves differently. The shame lifts. Their voice strengthens. Confidence grows, and with it, the courage to dream beyond survival.
Unlocking brilliance doesn’t happen by accident. It takes showing up, over and over again, with the tools, empathy, and vision to remind a child that they were never invisible — the world just didn’t look closely enough.
What role do you think mentorship and role models play in shaping the aspirations and achievements of African Children?

Mentorship and role models are everything. They serve as living, breathing vision boards for children. Just as adults visualize their goals through images and affirmations, children internalize what they see in the people around them — and they grow into those images.
At Chess in Slums Africa, we intentionally create opportunities for our children to engage with mentors and role models who reflect the values of discipline, resilience, and purpose. One of our flagship mentorship initiatives is the Chess Beyond Borders Initiative — a curated chess experience where our scholars sit across the board from professionals and experts across various fields. In these sessions, chess becomes a universal language — a bridge that connects worlds and dissolves social and cultural barriers. Our children teach these professionals how to play the game, and in return, they get to ask questions, learn about different career paths, and broaden their understanding of the world.
We especially value partnerships with organizations that provide immersive, hands-on experiences. Just recently, through a cultural exchange program, five of our ambassadors from diverse communities across Nigeria traveled to the United States. They visited the United Nations Headquarters, where they were hosted by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and engaged in meaningful conversations about global leadership and development. They also visited Duolingo, where they explored the intersection of language, technology, and education.
Experiences like these show our children that the world is far larger — and more within reach — than they imagined. They don’t just meet success; they connect with it, challenge it over a chessboard, and leave forever changed.
The images we give our children shape the boundaries of their dreams. At Chess in Slums Africa, we are committed to making sure those images are expansive, empowering, and deeply human.
How can parents, educators and leaders work together to create an environment that fosters excellence and encourages the African child to pursue greatness?

It begins with a shared vision — the understanding that raising a child is a collective responsibility. Parents must be empowered to do more than meet basic needs; they must be supported to actively nurture their child’s dreams, curiosity, and sense of worth.
Educators must go beyond the limits of curriculum, stepping into the role of catalysts — sparking confidence, creativity, and critical thinking. They should not just teach, but believe, reminding every child that their potential matters, regardless of their background.
Leaders, meanwhile, must invest in systems that make talent visible everywhere — not just in elite spaces, but in every street, slum, and underserved community. Equity must become more than a buzzword; it must shape policy, funding, and opportunity.
When these three pillars — home, school, and society — work in harmony, we create an ecosystem where no child is invisible, and no dream falls through the cracks. Greatness in the African child isn’t manufactured — it’s nurtured, when belief is shared, effort is united, and opportunities are made accessible to all.
Can you share a moment that reaffirmed your drive, an experience with one of the children that reminded you why this work matters so deeply?

One moment that will stay with us forever happened in Makoko, during one of our earliest outreaches. There was a boy — differently abled, non-verbal, and never enrolled in school — who had been repeatedly shunned by his peers. In fact, some even tried to stop him from joining our training sessions.
But when we introduced him to chess, something remarkable unfolded. He didn’t just learn the game — he began to grasp patterns, strategies, even numbers and letters for the very first time. It was a powerful reminder that when learning is offered with dignity, patience, and belief, it can unlock brilliance where the world sees none.
Ferdinand, went on to win his very first chess tournament, defeating peers from across the community. He transformed from a child society had cast aside into someone who stood tall — confident, celebrated, and full of purpose.
Since then, Ferdinand has:
● Played chess with Nigeria’s former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo
● Faced off against the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
● Been named the 2024 Intellectual Bravery Winner at the Indomie Heroes Awards ● Represented Nigeria at the 2025 United Nations Chess Games in New York City
● Received the Young Generous Award at the 12th Chess & Community Conference in Athens, Georgia
Ferdinand’s story mirrors that of the 13.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria — and the 70% living in extreme poverty. His journey is proof of what becomes possible when we choose to see potential instead of problems.
We’re not just teaching chess. We’re reclaiming futures.
With African Child’s Day in focus, what is your biggest hope for the future of education and opportunity for children across the continent?

Our biggest hope is that no child is left behind simply because of where they were born. That we build systems of education that do not just teach what to think, but empower how to think — systems rooted in creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.
We envision an Africa where opportunity is no longer a matter of geography, but of possibility. Where the next generation of scientists, artists, engineers, and innovators rise from every corner — from slums to suburbs, from remote villages to megacities. Our dream is that the African child no longer has to fight for the right to dream.
To help bring this vision to life, we are working towards building the largest Innovation Academy on the continent — a groundbreaking institution that will offer holistic educational experiences to children across Africa who otherwise have no access to quality education. This academy will serve as a beacon of possibility, combining academics, emotional development, creativity, and
21st-century skills under one roof.
We believe the future of Africa lies in her children — and our responsibility is to build the kind of world where every single one of them has the tools and belief to rise.
RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS
What’s the first thing you tell a child when they sit at the chessboard for the first time?

This board is like life — every move matters, and you have the power to change your story
One word that describes the African child?
Limitless
Dream partner or organization you’d love to collaborate with?
At Chess in Slums Africa, we remain open to meaningful collaborations with individuals and organizations that share our vision. Rather than naming a specific partner, we prefer to focus on shared values — integrity, innovation, and a genuine commitment to transforming lives.
One piece of advice to African Children who are struggling to find their place in the world
You are not a product of your environment, but of your potential. Keep showing up, keep dreaming — your voice, your ideas, and your journey matter. It is possible to do great things from small places.
As we mark African Child’s Day, let this be a reminder of the brilliance we see in the eyes of today’s children which is not accidental. Chess in Slums Africa reminds us that the path to greatness is not always grand and sometimes, all it needs is belief, opportunity, and the courage to dream differently.
The African child is not a statistic. They are storytellers, innovators, and leaders in the making. And if we commit to building today with care, creativity, and equity — we won’t just be shaping a better future. We’ll be shaping a generation destined to change the world.