Tunde Onakoya, Nigerian chess player/coach who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess game, has lauded the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) for providing a friendly space for girls to learn skills.

Mr Onakoya gave the commendation during his visit to the UNFPA centre in Muna Displaced Persons Camp in Maiduguri, where he interacted with some of the girls engaged in playing chess.

Mr Onakoya, who was in Borno to promote chess game under his project “Chess in Slums in Africa” which is providing interventions to children in Lagos slums, said such support would be provided to the girls to sharpen their intelligence.

The chess master, who had some chess training sessions with the girls at the centre, lauded their capacity for learning and urged them to remain steadfast to excel.

Mr Onakoya, who also met with some of the girls’ parents, urged them to continue supporting their children in succeeding through maximum use of the opportunities provided by the centre.

Receiving the Guinness record holder at the centre, the personnel in charge, Deborah Iliya, said the centre was established to provide a safe space for women and girls who experienced the devastating effects of the insurgency.

Ms Iliya said the centre provides access to various healthcare services and psychosocial support alongside various skills acquisition training that has continued to empower many women and girls in the camp.

She thanked Mr Onakoya for visiting and training girls interested in sharpening their intelligence through chess and urged other stakeholders to support the facility in any way, particularly by patronising the assorted products being made by the girls.

Some of the girls who spoke about their experiences in playing chess games said it would sharpen their thinking and help them to heal and recover from the traumatic experiences of the insurgency.

(NAN)