Founder of Chess-in-Slums Tunde Onakoya got a heartwarming welcome on his return to Nigeria on Wednesday.
The chess master was presented flowers and received with singing and dancing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He was also welcomed by the Eyo masquerades.
Onakoya recently played chess with US counterpart Shawn Martinez for 60 hours at the iconic Times Square in New York in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Tunde Onakoya completes 58-hour chess marathon, goes for 60 hours
The current chess marathon record is held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad who played for 56 hours nine minutes in 2018.
Onakoya said his attempt was to raise funds and awareness for providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children across Africa.
During the world record attempt, New York-based non-governmental organisation Gift of Chess revealed Onakoya experienced stomach pain and intense vomiting but would not quit. The chess guru admitted it at the end of the attempt, stating that he pushed on because of the motive behind the effort.
Dignitaries including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, have praised Onakoya for the effort.
