Mariam Akinloye
Some of the participants at the 7th edition of the Chess4Change Grand Slam Tournament held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos,
The Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, has stated that Sports is not only about winning, but also that playing Chess increases the intelligent quotient of students.
He stated this while declaring open the 7th edition of the Chess4Change Grand Slam Tournament held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Monday.
“Sports is not only about winning, it’s also about intelligent quotient, participation, inclusiveness and hope given to the younger ones to express their abilities”, he said.
“You are all winners, in as much you have been selected to participate in this competition”.
Gafaar thanked Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) for sponsoring the programme and as well as the youths in the state.
He also urged the sponsors to do more in terms of expansion, prize winning and anything that will increase the capacity of the competition, adding that it is also equipping the hope and potentials of the youths.
According to the PWC Country’s Operations Partner, Pedro Omontuemhen, he said that:
“Chess is a tool that can influence the thinking ability of children”, he said.
“We are looking at children in public schools; because Chess can be used as a means of changing their thinking, behaviour and academic performance”, he added.
