Pa Onakoya, father of Nigerian chess prodigy Tunde Onakoya, recently disclosed that he initially discouraged his son from playing chess as he had hoped Tunde would pursue a career in medicine.
In a report by The Nation on April 17, Tunde Onakoya embarked on a journey to break the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon. His endeavor culminated in success on April 20 at Times Square in New York City, where he played for over 58 hours, winning every match.
Reflecting on his son’s achievement, Pa Onakoya, accompanied by his wife, shared in an interview with City Edge TV, praising Tunde’s resilience. He admitted that during Tunde’s childhood, he would often interrupt his chess games to redirect his focus towards education.
Pa Onakoya expressed his pride in Tunde’s accomplishments, acknowledging him as a determined individual. Despite initially envisioning a career in medicine for his son, he emphasized the importance of supporting children in pursuing their passions.
He remarked, “My advice for parents is that they shouldn’t discourage their children from their passions. I wanted Tunde to be a doctor but I didn’t know that chess would make him popular like this. I thank God.”
Pa Onakoya’s reflections serve as a reminder of the significance of nurturing and supporting children’s interests and talents, even when they diverge from parental expectations. Tunde’s journey from childhood chess enthusiast to world record-breaking chess master highlights the power of perseverance and pursuing one’s passion against all odds.
