Stakeholders Urge Government, Parents To Invest In Mind Sports As Tools For Development

LAGOS – School administrators and coaches have called for stronger investment in mind sports to boost youth development and wider adoption across Nigeria.

This is just as Starfield College stamped its authority in the 2025 Inter-School Chess Championship, it emerged as the top in both the boys and girls categories.

Speaking at the competition ceremony in Lagos, Principal of Starfield College, Mrs. Sarah Oyinloye, celebrated the return of inter-school tournaments after a few years break, noting that the competition aligns with the school’s vision for holistic education.

She said,” Today I’m glad to see that we planned this term to have this chess tournament. The last time we had an inter-school event like this was three years ago.”

Oyinloye explained that the motivation behind the tournament was rooted in character building.

According to her, “Calmness is a powerful cradle. When you watch them as they play, you see they are always calm. Chess teaches patience, critical thinking, and how to combat whatever issue is coming.”

She stressed that the skills learned in the game translate to academic and personal success.

The principal urged parents to support their children beyond academics, describing chess and vocational skills as critical components of the total child.

She said, “Parents should support their children. Give them boards, give them trainers, encourage them to be active participants. Apart from academics, support skills, handwork is very good, when you have it, nobody can take it away from you.”

Mr Christopher Eigbe, the Director of Studies at Starfield College, emphasised the importance of early exposure to chess, warning that creativity declines with age.

“If in Nigeria we can get our small children to be involved in chess, in another ten years we could be world champions,” he said.

He added that chess trains children in creativity, strategising, resilience, and pursuing their plan even in the face of difficulties.” Eigbe also issued a broader me sage to the government, insisting that sports including mind sports must be prioritised as mechanisms for youth empowerment.