By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The game of chess will soon witness a boom in Northern Nigeria, with the interest being indicated by very young school children.
Technical Director NIgeria Chess Federation, Alhaji Bode Durotoye expressed this while fielding questions from sports writers on Thursday February 10, 2022, on the sidelines of the Second edition Northern States Chess Championship, ongoing at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna
“I have been going round looking at the tables, there are some very young children here, with time, chess will boom in the North,” he said.
Speaking further, he said that the championship serves as an avenue and bonding ground for unity.
On the prizes earmarked for winners, he said that cash awards worth over N300,000 would be given to various categories.
Durotoye who recently retired as the Director Grassroots Sports Development, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, said that so far, 80 have registered and more are being expected, optimistic that the total will exceed 100 participants in the event.
On what plans are on ground by the Chess Federation to replicate same across NIgeria, he said several competitions are lined up across the six geo-political zones in 2022.
“The Nigerian Chess Federation is planning to introduce the competition to other parts of the country.
“We are going to Jos for the next one, South South in June, Chess is going round the country,” he assured.
Fielding a question on the impact of such competitions in the country, he explained that chess keeps those that play it off vices.
“Majority of the participants are children and it is good for the country.
“You can never see a chess player participate in banditry or other vices. It is a game you can play for life,” he declared.
The competition has participants from the 19 Northern states.
