By Seun Ibiyemi
Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation, has announced plans to host the third edition of the Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championship in May 2026.
The organisers disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the competition is designed to promote critical thinking, discipline and intellectual development among young Nigerians.
According to Vice President of the NCF, Adeyinka Adewole, the tournament will take place from May 7 to May 8 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos.
Adewole said the championship is open to primary and secondary schools nationwide and is expected to attract more than 2,000 students from across the country.
He explained that the competition will follow a six-round rapid format, with primary school pupils competing on May 7 and secondary school students on May 8.
He also noted that students from schools for the visually impaired would participate, highlighting the inclusive nature of the event.
The 2026 edition will feature a prize pool of N20 million, with schools competing in team-based categories across primary and secondary levels.
Speaking on behalf of Ecobank Nigeria, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Austen Osokpor, said the initiative aligns with the bank’s corporate social responsibility focus on education and youth empowerment.
He described chess as a powerful educational tool that builds problem-solving skills, strategic thinking and discipline, adding that the championship provides a platform to nurture young talents and encourage healthy competition.
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Osokpor also announced that a leading educational brand, Schoolmate, has joined the 2026 edition as a co-sponsor to support youth development.
The 2025 edition of the championship recorded over 1,800 participants from schools and higher institutions nationwide, reflecting growing interest in the competition.
Organisers said the 2026 tournament is expected to be even larger, with increased participation from schools across Nigeria and stronger stakeholder engagement in education and sports development.
