The Nigerian chess community has set aside June 11, 2024 to witness an extraordinary event as seasoned Guinness World Record holder and founder of Chess In Slums Africa (CISA), Tunde Onakoya, squares off against Nigerian chess prodigy and National Women’s Chess Champion, Deborah Quickpen.

The special match, which aims to promote chess in Nigeria, celebrate the mind sport as a powerful tool for change and raise essential funds to support the transformative Chess In Slums charity and Deborah Quickpen’s chess career, and powered by Daniel Ford International (U.K), will take place in Lagos between 3 and 6pm

Tunde Onakoya is renowned for his remarkable achievements in the global chess community, and his commitment to apply chess to empower children from underserved communities. His internationally acclaimed Chess In Slums project has provided children accross Africa with educational opportunities and life skills.

Speaking on the event, Onakoya revealed that “This match is a testament to the potential that lies within every child. Deborah’s talent and dedication are truly remarkable. Through Chess in Slums, we aim to unlock this potential in many more children across Nigeria.”

On her part, Deborah Quickpen, a rising star in African and world chess, has already made waves with her exceptional talent and achievements at such a young age. Deborah is currently ranked no 1 in Nigeria and No 4 in Africa across all female age groups. She is the current Nigeria National Women’s Chess Champion, the youngest person to hold that title in Nigerian chess history. Deborah’s journey in chess has been nothing short of inspiring, and her participation in this match symbolizes the bright future of Nigerian chess.

“I am excited and honored to play against Mr. Onakoya. Chess has changed my life, and I hope this match inspires other young people to take up the game and see where it can take them,” Quickpen said.

The event is also supported by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

“NIDCOM’s involvement underscores the importance of the Nigerian diaspora in championing local causes and highlights how the diaspora can be an invaluable asset to Nigeria. By championing this event, NIDCOM encourages the Nigerian diaspora to actively participate in and contribute to initiatives that foster education and empowerment within their homeland,” a Daniel Ford source said.

The proceeds of the match will be channeled towards expanding the reach and impact of Chess in Nigeria.

The event will be streamed live, allowing chess enthusiasts and supporters around the globe to witness the match.

About Chess In Slums Africa

Chess in Slums is a non-profit organization dedicated to using chess as a medium to engage, educate and empower children from underprivileged backgrounds. Through structured chess programs, the organization provides these children with critical thinking skills, discipline, and the confidence needed to pursue their dreams.

The ongoing indefinite strike called by organised labour may end today if agreements reached with the federal government on a new national minimum wage on Monday is anything to go by.

The agreement was reached at a meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, in Abuja. The meeting was also attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, indicating the importance the Bola Tinubu administration attached to it.

Although no amount was agreed upon as the new minimum wage, the parties agreed that the federal government would agree to a higher figure than the N60,000 it currently offers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began an indefinite strike on Monday to force the government to agree on a new minimum wage for workers as well as review the increase in the price of electricity for some consumers.

Monday’s agreement was signed by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero; his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000,” the agreement states.

To expedite a final agreement on the new minimum wage, the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage will meet daily over the next week. The goal is to arrive at an agreeable minimum wage that meets the expectations of both the government and the labour unions.

By Mike Ozekhome SAN

Labour has literally grounded Nigeria – from airports, hospitals, tertiary institutions, to electricity which has plunged the biggest black nation on earth into total darkness. I am in full, complete and total support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress’ (TUC)’s current national strike for upward review of the FG’s proposed minimum wage of N60,000 per month. NLC and TUC had also demanded that the government reverses the increase in electricity tariff to N65/KWH. When talks broke down with none of the parties shifting grounds, Labour commenced a strike action on the midnight of Sunday 2nd June, 2024. FG’s proposed meagre salary is certainly not a living wage in today’s Nigeria. At the current parallel market exchange rate of N1,470 to one dollar, the wage being conceded by the Federal Government to labour is a mere $40.82 per month (N60,000), while the NLC and TUC are asking for a whooping N615,500 per month.

By way of comparative analysis with some other countries globally, the monthly minimum wage in the United States is US$1,160 ( N1,705,200); UK £1,376 (N2,528,950); Canada 2,464 CAD (N2,710,400); France £1,539.42 (N2,847,927); Ghana GHC 2,904 (N292,548.96) Rwanda RWF 56,668 (N64,602); South Africa R4,067.2 – R4,412.8 (N322,406.944 – N349,802.656); Botswana P1,168 (N122,056); Germany £1,985.6 (N3,673,360) Australia AUD3531.2 (N 3,490,414.64); Kenya is KES15,201 (N172,683.36). In UAE, there is no general minimum wage as it differs from profession to profession.

However, for skilled Labourers AED 5,000 (N2,019,435); people with University degrees AED12,000 (N4,846,644); qualified technicians AED 7,000 (N2,827,209); South Korea is 2,010,580 Won (N2,161,574.558). China differs from city to city. However, Shanghai is RMB 2,690 per month (N551,181) and Heilongjiang RMB 1,450 (N 297,105). Singapore does not prescribe a general minimum wage for all its workers. However, the minimum Singaporean wage is averaged at 6,792SGD/Month = N7,464,408).

Even though Rwanda and Botswana’s minimum wage per month which is RWF 56,668 (N64,602) and P1,168 (N122,056), respectively, appears meagre, the two countries have since put in place social services that cushion the masses’ suffering and put them on a developmental path. Imdeed, they are two of the fastest growing economies not only in Africa, but also in the world. We do not have such in Nigeria. Nigeria is perhaps the only country in the world that brazenly defies Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion to the effect that “what goes up must come down”. In Nigeria, once prices of good go up, they never come down.
Are these countries and us not living on the same Planet earth? We are, of course.
With the present spirally inflation, N60,000 cannot even buy one bag of rice which today sells for between N80,000 and N120,000 depending on the grade and quality.

What is the way forward from this FG-Labour face-off and stalemate? Part of the solution lies in steering a middle course between labour’s N615,500 per month demand and the FG’s proposal of N60,000 per month. This is more so having regard to the impossibility of the private sector, especially small scale businesses and private professions, having the capacity and economic wherewithal to pay such exorbitant wage. Another solution lies in public office holders making deliberate sacrifices in the midst of public angst and disenchantment by cutting down their ostentatiously vulgar lifestyle of ugly display of opulence and their sheer exhibitionism of wealth in mindless convoys of vehicles in the midst of grinding poverty and wretchedness of the masses. The Nigerian people are not happy at all. Anyone who advises the government to the contrary is nothing but a fawner, bootlicker, ego masseur, toady flatterer and clapper.

PROF. MIKE A. A. OZEKHOME, SAN, CON , OFR, FCIArb, LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D, D.Litt, D.SC, DA, DHL