Nigerian chess player, Tunde Onakoya delivered a warming address at the opening ceremony of the UN Games.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, he expressed gratitude for opportunity given to him to be at the event.
He said, “Yesterday, I had the rare and humbling honor of delivering a Keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2025 @unitednations games. It was my first official invite to a United Nations conference as a special guest so it all felt surreal.
“When I learned I’d be speaking alongside sporting legends like Manny Pacquiao, Giorgio Chiellini to a room of esteemed ambassadors and diplomats steering the fate of nations, I felt a wave of nerves and doubt.
“But as I stepped into the conference room, a quiet truth anchored me: I belonged here. Not despite my journey, but because of it. And my experiences and stories were just as valid as anyone else’s.
“I spoke about the universal language of chess and how it transcends borders, race, class and even disability. I stood in the gap for the children and shared how, through our work @thegiftofchess and @chessinslums, we are using this game not just to educate and teach strategy, but to help every child believe they belong, and that there’s a place for them in the world.
“As my speech came to a close, I invited the children and my friend Russ to join me on stage. We had flown into New York together from Atlanta and had to run through the crazy NYC traffic to make it just in time for my speech.”
He added, “The spotlight wasn’t just mine—it was theirs too. And in a moment I will never forget, one of the young girls took the microphone and gave a speech so heartfelt, that the entire room rose in applause,” he said.
“I felt really proud as they didn’t just share the spotlight with me, they ignited it and showed that given the right opportunity, they can also shine on the world’s biggest stages.”
