Over 1,500 students vie for N20m at Ecobank Schools’ Chess Championship

The stage is set for the third edition of the Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championship, a premier scholastic event organised in partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation and SchoolMate.

Scheduled to kick off from May 7 to 8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), the tournament will feature approximately 1,500 students from 300 schools across 15 states competing for a N20 million prize pool.

Ecobank Targets Future Leaders

Speaking ahead of the third edition, Adekunle Adewuyi, Ecobank’s Segment Head for Education, Faith and Social Services, said the bank remains committed to growing the championship as a platform for developing Nigeria’s next generation of intellectual and strategic leaders.

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

Adewuyi described the event as a rapidly expanding scholastic competition that promotes intellectual development and nurtures future grandmasters. He noted that last year’s edition drew over 2,500 students from 450 schools and expressed confidence that this year’s tournament will sustain that growth trajectory.

Alignment with Global Standards

Adeyinka Adewole Samuel, vice president of the Nigeria Chess Federation, said the championship aligns with global FIDE standards that encourage structured school-level competitions.

According to him, the tournament targets primary and secondary school students aged 7 to 18 years, forming part of a deliberate strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of future chess talent. He added that about 150 primary and 150 secondary schools will participate, with each school fielding five players.

Growing Impact and Continental Success

Highlighting the tournament’s impact, Adewole noted that several Nigerian students who emerged from previous editions have excelled at continental competitions.

“When Nigeria competes at continental tournaments, many standout players are alumni of this championship. We won a gold medal in Uganda last year, and that success is strongly linked to this initiative,” he said.

SchoolMate Backs Youth Development

Also speaking, Marketing Head of SchoolMate Nigeria, Ambesh Kumar, said the company partnered with the initiative to promote youth development through education and sport.

“We are passionate about quality education for children, and we see this tournament as a meaningful way of giving back. Chess helps build discipline, focus and strategic thinking,” Kumar said.