VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS— Platform Schools, Ipaja, has actually consolidated its status as Nigeria’s powerhouse in youth chess by clinching the title at the 2026 Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championship.
The triumph marks the 3rd time the Lagos-based school has actually declared the top prize in the competition’s history.
The grand finale, held at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre in Victoria Island, saw Platform Schools win the grand prize of 2.5 million.
Dayspring School, Oyo State, completed as the very first runner-up, securing 2 million, while the historical King’s College, Lagos, placed third, making 1.5 million.
The third edition of the champion, arranged in partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), saw its largest turnout yet.
The competition included 1,500 trainees representing 300 primary and secondary schools throughout the country, all contending in a highly intensive six-round fast format.
The Formula Behind the Dominance
Speaking on the historical win, the Director of Platform Schools, Dr Adebola Obe, exposed that the institution’s unbroken streak of podium surfaces is the outcome of a purposeful scholastic policy.
At Platform Schools, chess is integrated into the core curriculum, making involvement necessary for every single registered child.
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Following their triumph at the inaugural edition, the school represented Nigeria at a worldwide chess competition in Kazakhstan.
“We protected second location the following year, and clinched top place both in 2015 and again this year, cementing our reputation as a consistent champion,” Dr Obe noted.
“The school stays committed to utilizing chess as a tool for developing critical thinking, discipline, and strength.”
The Search for Nigeria’s First Grandmaster
While commemorating the regional success, corporate sponsors used the platform to highlight a considerable gap in the country’s sports landscape.
The Head of Educational and Social Providers at Ecobank Nigeria, Adekunle Adewuyi, challenged the young players to look beyond school competitions and go for global expert titles.
Adewuyi explained that while countries like Kenya and Rwanda boast certified chess Grandmasters, Nigeria has yet to produce one.
“It is our prayer that some of these students will become one in the near future,” he mentioned, stressing that Ecobank’s sponsorship is a financial investment in cognitive development and nationwide eminence.
The Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Prince Adeyinka Adewole, commended Ecobank for broadening the scope of the competition.
He praised the stable enhancement in logistics and highlighted the intro of inclusive programs customized particularly for schools for the blind, ensuring that the cognitive benefits of chess reach all sectors of Nigerian youth.
With the 2026 edition successfully concluded, the NCF has assured stakeholders of an even bigger and more highly innovative tournament structure ahead of the next seasonal cycle.