Ecobank says plans are complete for its 2026 National Schools’ Team Chess Championship, organised with the Nigeria Chess Federation and SchoolMate.
A statement on Friday said the championship will host 1,500 pupils from 300 schools nationwide between May 7 and May 8 in Lagos.
The event will take place at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, bringing together young players from across Nigeria in a competitive intellectual contest.
Ecobank’s Head of Education, Faith and Social Services, Adekunle Adewuyi, said the bank remained committed to developing future intellectual leaders.
According to him, the championship has grown into a strong national platform for nurturing talent and promoting critical thinking among young Nigerians.
“This championship has become a leading national platform for identifying and nurturing emerging chess talents.
“Chess sharpens critical thinking, problem-solving and discipline, preparing young Nigerians not just for competition, but for future leadership roles,” Adewuyi said.
He described the tournament as a rapidly growing, award-winning competition that promotes intellectual development and supports the emergence of future grandmasters.
Reflecting on past editions, Adewuyi noted a sharp rise in participation, underscoring the competition’s increasing national appeal.
“Last year’s edition recorded over 2,500 students from 450 schools. We are confident this year will surpass that milestone,” he said.
Nigeria Chess Federation Vice President, Adeyinka Adewole, said the championship aligned with global standards set by the International Chess Federation.
He said the tournament targeted primary and secondary school pupils aged seven to 18 to build a sustainable pipeline of future grandmasters.
Adewole disclosed that 150 primary and 150 secondary schools are expected, with each fielding five players.
He said this would bring participation to about 1,500 students from roughly 15 states across the country.
According to him, the competition will feature a ₦20 million prize pool to reward outstanding performance.
Adewole said new measures included strict eligibility checks, improved crowd control, and deployment of 50 trained arbiters to ensure fairness.
Highlighting impact, he noted that past participants have excelled at continental competitions, showcasing the championship’s influence.
“When Nigeria competes internationally, many standout players are alumni of this championship.
“We won gold last year in Uganda, and that success is strongly linked to Ecobank’s investment,” Adewole said.
Marketing Head of SchoolMate Nigeria, Ambesh Kumar, said the firm partnered to support youth development through education and sport.
He noted that chess helped children develop discipline, focus and strategic thinking skills essential for academic and personal growth.
Kumar said the company distributed books in 2025 and joined as a co-sponsor in 2026.
“SchoolMate has operated in Nigeria for years, and this championship is a meaningful way of giving back to society,” he said.
