Bank Targets 1,500 Pupils For Annual Chess Competition

About 1,500 pupils from 300 schools across the country are expected to participate in the 2026 Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championship, as stakeholders intensify efforts to institutionalise chess as a tool for youth development.

The championship, organised by Ecobank Nigeria in partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation and SchoolMate, will take place at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre.

Speaking ahead of the third edition, Ecobank’s Segment Head for Education, Faith and Social Services, Adekunle Adewuyi, said the initiative is part of efforts to develop critical thinking and leadership capacity among young Nigerians.

“This championship has become a leading national platform for identifying and nurturing emerging chess talents. Chess is a powerful educational tool; it sharpens critical thinking, problem-solving, and discipline. Through this initiative, we are preparing young Nigerians not just for competition, but for leadership roles in the future,” he said.

Adewuyi noted that participation has grown steadily, with over 2,500 students from 450 schools recorded in the 2025 edition, expressing optimism that this year’s tournament will sustain the momentum.

Also speaking, Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole Samuel, said the championship aligns with standards set by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs, which promotes structured grassroots competitions.

He said about 150 primary and 150 secondary schools are expected to participate, with each school fielding five players, bringing total participation to approximately 1,500 students from about 15 states. He added that the competition will feature a N20 million prize pool.

Samuel said additional measures, including stricter eligibility checks and the deployment of 50 trained arbiters, have been introduced to enhance transparency and improve event delivery.

“The growth has been phenomenal. When Nigeria competes at continental tournaments, many of the standout players are alumni of the Ecobank championship. We won a gold medal last year in Uganda, and that success is strongly linked to what Ecobank has done,” he said.

On his part, Marketing Head of SchoolMate Nigeria, Ambesh Kumar, said the firm’s involvement is aimed at supporting education and youth development.

“We are passionate about quality education for children, and we see this tournament as a veritable means of advancing that cause,” he said.