Popular Nigerian skit maker and Nollywood actor, Mr Macaroni, has publicly expressed admiration for chess champion Tunde Onakoya, commending his ongoing efforts to transform the lives of disadvantaged children through the Chess in Slums Africa initiative.
Macaroni's praise came in the wake of growing online criticism directed at Onakoya following his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During the visit, Onakoya presented the president with his Guinness World Record certificate for the longest chess marathon, along with a symbolic gold-plated Adire chess set.
While President Tinubu hailed Onakoya as a shining example of Nigerian youth resilience and expressed interest in expanding his initiative nationwide, the visit stirred controversy on social media. A section of netizens voiced disappointment, accusing Onakoya of legitimizing a government they believe lacks credibility. Comparisons were quickly drawn to Mr Macaroni, who is known for his vocal stance against the current administration and has consistently distanced himself from state-sponsored engagements.
Despite these comparisons and the controversy surrounding the visit, Mr Macaroni took to his social media platform to defend and celebrate Onakoya’s work, describing it as "tremendously inspiring." He emphasized that while political opinions may differ, meaningful contributions to national development can take many forms.
“The work Tunde Onakoya is doing is not just commendable, it is tremendously inspiring! At the end of the day, what we all want is a better country that we all can be proud of and there are different ways to achieve that. We all must play our part,” Macaroni wrote.
Macaroni further stressed the importance of unity and collective action in building a better Nigeria, encouraging people not to lose sight of the positive impact individuals like Onakoya are making at the grassroots level.
Tunde Onakoya, through Chess in Slums Africa, has earned international recognition for using the game of chess as a tool to empower children in underserved communities, equipping them with critical thinking skills, discipline, and hope for a better future.
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