Lagos: The Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered (NIM) has hosted a chess tournament to stimulate critical thinking in primary and secondary school students in Lagos State.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the tournament is an advocacy initiative of the institute in partnership with Dynamic Chess Ville, a chess foundation. The President of NIM, retired Commodore Abimbola Ayuba, said at the invitational chess competition on Thursday in Lagos that the competition brought together young chess talents to interact and gain exposure. He mentioned that the tournament was the maiden edition and designed to promote inclusivity and nurture key life skills such as strategic thinking, discipline, and sportsmanship through the game of chess.

Ayuba added that the tournament also seeks to foster a spirit of healthy competition, empower young minds, and celebrate intellectual excellence. He noted that trophies, medals, and prize money would be awarded, while participating schools would receive certificates of participation. In the primary school category, the winner would receive N150,000, the first runner-up N100,000, and the second runner-up N50,000. In the secondary school category, the winner would earn N200,000, with the first and second runners-up securing N150,000 and N100,000, respectively. Ayuba also stated that from 2026, the institute would consider expanding the scope of the competition to make it a national event.

Mr. Tolulope Fasinu, Managing Director of Dynamic Chess Ville, remarked that the tournament served as an opportunity to invest in the development of schoolchildren. He emphasized that chess is an important sport as it improves cognitive abilities and calculation skills, boosts self-confidence, and sharpens decision-making skills. Fasinu urged governments and corporate organizations to invest in chess to widen its reach, improve its outcomes, and encourage participation in chess competitions at the global level.

NAN reports that the participating schools in the primary category included Chess in Slums Africa, Indian Language School, Bethany Hall School, and Home Science Association Nursery and Primary School. Other participants were Dupeola Childrenland School, Dansol Nursery and Primary School, Favour of God International School, and Priceless Jewel Elementary School. In the secondary school category, the participating schools included Chess in Slums Africa, Indian Language School, Home Science Association Secondary School, Grenville School, Kings College, and Queens College. Additional participants were Value Place School, Favour of God International School, Chess with Laura, and Dynamic Chess Ville.

In the primary school category, Bethany Hall School secured the first position, while Chess in Slums Africa and Home Science Association Nursery and Primary School emerged second and third, respectively. In the secondary school category, Home Science Association Secondary School took the first position, with Indian Language School and Dynamic Chess Ville coming in second and third, respectively.