An 18-year-old teenager identified as Adeoye Fawaz, has emerged as a double champion in Chess and Mental Maths at a tournament recently held in Oshodi, Lagos.
The chess tournament is an initiative of the Chess in Slums Initiative, an organisation dedicated to engaging children and other young people living in slums in meaningful activities that would aid their mental and social abilities.
However, the founder of Chess in slums, Tunde Onakoya, while speaking on Fawaz prowess, said: “Adeoye Fawaz, an 18- year-old boy who works as a bus conductor and has lived years of his life under Oshodi bridge emerged as our overall champion in both chess and mental maths.
“The final phase of the mental maths competition was fast and furious but Fawaz aced the questions. Now, imagine if you gave these boys a proper education? Imagine if you gave them coding? Imagine how many of them we’ve lost to the streets because no one paid attention.
Tunde also narrated how the 51 homeless, out-of-school children confided in him and his team about some of the terrible vices they have committed in the past
In addition, amongst all 51 contestants was Tope, who happened to have narrated her horrid experience trying to survive on her own. It is reported that she would be enrolled in a school, next year.
However, the founder of the Chess in Slums initiative said that Fawaz won N1million grant money even though he did not apply for it.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Chess champion, Adeoye revealed that he wanted to become a comedian and musician but currently works as a bus conductor.
