Tunde Onakoya’s chess giveaway stirs debate after fan suggests Portable as a recipient.
His reaction sparks talks on inclusivity as followers question who deserves learning tools.
Renowned Nigerian chess champion and founder of the Chess in Slums initiative, Tunde Onakoya, recently sparked an online debate after his interaction with a fan regarding who should receive his remaining chess sets.
On social media, Onakoya shared that he had two chess sets left to give away and asked his followers to suggest who should receive them. “I have two more chess sets left. Who should I give them to?🙂” he wrote.
One fan quickly suggested that Onakoya gift one to controversial singer Portable and the other to a person named Lande. The fan’s suggestion read: “Give Portable one and give Lande one too.”
Onakoya, seemingly surprised by the suggestion, replied with a question: “Can Portable play chess?” His response immediately triggered a wave of reactions on social media.
Some users perceived Onakoya’s comment as dismissive and questioned whether chess knowledge was a requirement for receiving a set. One user, @Olamoju4, fired back: “Does the president know how to play? Just asking. Or is it only people who already know how to play that you give to?”
Another commenter, @DavymartinCE0, remarked, “Tinubu knows how to play chess, that’s why he checkmated you.”
Meanwhile, @enyola suggested: “Teach him or just give me the chessboard already 😎.”
The exchange has since fueled broader conversations about inclusivity and accessibility in skill-based outreach programs. While Onakoya’s efforts to promote chess and education in underserved communities have earned him widespread respect, this recent dialogue highlighted how the public expects the same openness when it comes to distributing resources, even to celebrities with controversial reputations.
It remains to be seen who the final recipients of the chess sets will be, but the interaction has certainly kept fans talking.
See his post below:
