FirstBank, KEY Academy & Eko Hotels Unveil ChessMasters 2026

By Love Oyedokun

Lagos, Nigeria – The landscape of youth development in Africa is set to witness a major shift as FirstBank of Nigeria, the nation’s premier financial institution, officially announced its strategic partnership for the second edition of the ChessMasters tournament. This initiative, designed to foster intellectual growth through the strategic game of chess, promises to be the largest school-based competition on the continent.

Cablenews24 reports that the tournament, which caters to primary school children aged 6 to 11, goes beyond mere competition. It serves as a pedagogical tool aimed at sharpening:

• Critical Thinking: Encouraging students to analyze complex scenarios.
• Problem-Solving: Teaching the value of strategic foresight.
• Leadership: Fostering confidence and decision-making skills.

Organized by the synergy of Eko Hotels and Suites and KEY Academy, the tournament provides a national platform for students from diverse backgrounds to converge and display their intellectual prowess.

During the official press conference held on 16 March 2026, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank, framed the sponsorship within the bank’s long-standing history of supporting sports development.

“Our sponsorship of ChessMasters 2026 reflects our commitment to building talents and communities… We are proud of our enduring partnerships, spanning over a century of supporting legacy sports in Nigeria,” remarked Ijabiyi.

This partnership is a direct extension of the First@Sports initiative, which aligns with the bank’s core sustainability pillars: Education, Health, and Welfare. By investing in chess, FirstBank is positioning the game as a foundational skill for academic and personal success.

The collaboration has been met with enthusiasm from the tournament’s founders. Caline Chagoury Moudabar of Eko Hotels and Damilola Okonkwo of KEY Academy noted that the partnership acts as a catalyst for growth.

“With support from partners like FirstBank, we are opening the doors of participation to more children and more schools in this year’s edition,” said Moudabar.

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Adding to the sentiment, Prince Adeyinka Adewole of the Nigeria Chess Federation highlighted the broader social impact of the sport, noting that chess serves as a vital tool for improving concentration and aiding the cognitive development of children, including those with autism.

The upcoming tournament is set to be a landmark event for the Nigerian educational calendar.

As the 2 May 2026 event approaches, the synergy between FirstBank, Eko Hotels, and KEY Academy signals a new chapter for youth engagement in Nigeria. By leveraging chess as a primary vehicle for empowerment, the ChessMasters tournament is firmly establishing itself as a launchpad for the next generation of African thinkers and leaders.

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