July 20, 2023

Lagos State Ministry of Education is set to partner the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to enhance teaching and learning in Lagos State schools using the Chess in education model.

The partnership will involve training of teachers and building capacity for the promotion of chess in schools across the State.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Abolaji disclosed this during an interactive session with officials of the International Chess Federation led by the Chairman, Chess in Education Commission, Mr. Jerry Nash and accompanied by the President of the Nigerian Chess Federation DIG Sanni Mohammed.

During the interactive session, the Chess Federation officials and the Ministry examined the mutual benefits in promoting the game of chess for both the learners and the teachers.

The Permanent Secretary expressed “willingness of the Ministry to support initiatives to further deepen the acceptability of Chess as a game and a tool for better learning in public schools”.

He stressed that game based education is noted for motivating learners and often increase their engagement beyond the classrooms. The session agreed to expand the existing reach of the game with additional pilot arrangement in six schools each, across the six education districts.

In his remark Mr. Jerry Nash, spoke extensively about the advantages of playing chess from a young age through to adulthood. According to him “ focus of FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission is to expand the global opportunities for chess among school children”.

He further stated that since children enjoy learning through play, chess is a powerful educational tool for their development and exposure to 21st-century skills, either as a stand-alone subject or integrated into the school curriculum”.

He shared his experience of training teachers for over twenty years on how to play chess and teach their students to excel in the game. Mr. Nash extended his goodwill to the Ministry, inviting them to participate in a training program they were conducting that week.

He suggested sending some teachers from the Ministry to be trained, which would contribute to the steady growth of chess in the region.

A member of the Chess in Education Commission Ms. Ansel Laubscher, a lawyer and member of the South African chess team for many years shared her experience on how exposure to chess game provided proceeds for her to study law. She highlighted her role as a chess education lecturer and expressed her passion for training teachers in Lagos State.

The session was also attended by the Vice President World Chess Federation Mr. Olalekan Adeyemi, the Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation Prince Adeyinka Adewole, officials of the Lagos State Chess Association and directors from the Ministry of Education.