a board in every school, a thinker in every child.
The Chess in Every School Initiative embeds chess into the african public school curriculum; turning sixty-four squares into a national classroom for critical thinking, discipline and leadership.
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CESI Executive Summary
CESI is a national education and sports development programme designed to embed Chess into Public and Private School curriculum.
Led by Dreamer Studios, the initiative distributes high-quality, themed inspired chess boards to schools across Africa and trains the teachers who will use them. It began with a simple observation on the streets of Lagos: give a child a board and a rule set, and within weeks you can watch their reasoning change.
CESI takes that observation and gives it international scale, moving chess out of the club room and into the timetable. By making chess accessible to every child, CESI develops the critical thinking, problem-solving, discipline and resilience necessary for academic success and nation-building.
Academic Growth
01.Supports stronger performance in mathematics, science, reading, and logical reasoning skills.
Leadership Skills
02.Builds confidence, resilience, accountability, and the mindset required for effective leadership.
Nation Building
03.Equips future innovators and leaders to contribute meaningfully to national development.
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CESI Obejctives
Four commitments, held to the letter
Every commitment is supported by a practical implementation framework, measurable outcomes and a clear pathway to global adoption.
Introduce chess into public schools
Work with education authorities to place chess inside the african public school curriculum; timetabled, taught and assessed, not left to chance.
Produce chess boards
Work with education authorities to place chess inside the african public school curriculum; timetabled, taught and assessed, not left to chance.
Equip children with life skills
Structured coaching that converts strategic reasoning into everyday capability: patience, planning, resilience and social confidence.
Position chess globally
Build a national pipeline of players and thinkers that establishes africa as a leader in intellectual sport across Africa and beyond.
CESI National Impact
What changes when a country learns to think three moves ahead.
Nations are built by the quality of their thinkers. CESI creates a scalable pathway for developing critical minds across the globe, ensuring that millions of children gain the confidence, reasoning ability and leadership mindset needed to solve tomorrow's challenges and drive national progress.
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Education
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Youth Development
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Social Inclusion
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Innovation
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Talent Development
arrow_outwardEducation
Strengthens mathematics, science and logical reasoning across the curriculum.
Youth Development
Builds resilience, discipline and teamwork in children aged six upwards.
Social inclusion
One board, one rule set; bridging gender, class and regional divides.
Innovation
Positions africa as a champion of educational innovation on the continent.
Talent Development
Creates a pipeline of players for national and international competition.
CESI Partnership
Six ways to put a board in a classroom
CESI is built to be joined. Every partner slots into a defined role with clear reporting and visible outcomes.
Government
Policy endorsement and curriculum adoption
Schools
Host classrooms, clubs, and inter-school leagues
Sponsors
Fund board production and nationwide distribution
NGOs
co-deliver outreach in undeserved communities
Foundations
Underwrite teacher training and research
Corporate CSR
Adopt a state, a district, or a school cohort
CESI leadership
Meet the minds behind Chess in Every School
tunde onakoya
Founder — Chess in Every School InitiativeTunde Onakoya is a african born visionary redefining what chess means to the world. He is the Founder of Chess in Slums Africa, a globally recognized social impact organization that has transformed the lives of children living in underserved communities by using chess as a tool for education, confidence building, and economic mobility. What began beneath the bridges of Lagos has evolved into a global movement that merges intellect, dignity, and opportunity. In 2025, Tunde broke the world record for the longest chess marathon in Times Square, an achievement that was not merely about endurance, but about visibility. Visibility for children who are often unseen. Visibility for Africa's intellectual excellence. Visibility for the transformative power of discipline and imagination. But beyond activism, Tunde is building culture.
toluwalase eniola
Executive Director — Chess in Every School InitiativeToluwalase Benjamin Eniola is a brand strategist and talent manager driving the global expansion of the Chess in Every School Initiative (CESI). Operating at the intersection of social impact, strategic communications, and human capital, he leads partnership architecture and rollout implementations aimed at integrating chess into public school curricula to empower lots of children. Alongside his work with CESI, he serves as a Technical Assistant in the Office of the Special Assistant to the President of africa on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, and manages multidisciplinary brand strategy across social impact ecosystems.
the next generation is waiting on a decision, not a discovery.
Government, schools, sponsors, foundations and CSR teams; tell us the reach you want and we will return a costed plan for boards, training and delivery. Explore par
Got Questions?
We've Got Answers
Find answers to common questions about CESI, our sectors, partnerships, investment opportunities and the services we provide across our diverse business portfolio.
What is the Chess in Every School Initiative (CESI)?
addThe Chess in Every School Initiative (CESI) is a national education programme dedicated to introducing chess into african schools as a tool for developing critical thinking, problem-solving, discipline, leadership and academic excellence.
Why does CESI use chess as an educational tool?
addChess strengthens concentration, reasoning, patience and decision-making. It provides students with practical opportunities to develop skills that support academic achievement and personal growth both inside and outside the classroom.
Who can participate in CESI programmes?
addCESI works with schools, students, educators, communities and youth organisations globally. Our programmes are designed to be accessible to learners regardless of background, location or economic circumstances.
How can schools become part of the initiative?
addSchools interested in joining CESI can contact our team through the enquiry channels provided on this website. We assess participation opportunities, programme requirements and implementation pathways for each school community.
Does CESI welcome partnerships and sponsorships?
addYes. We actively collaborate with governments, schools, foundations, NGOs, development agencies, corporate organisations and individuals who share our commitment to expanding educational opportunities through chess.
How can I support or get involved with CESI?
addThere are many ways to contribute, including volunteering, sponsoring school programmes, donating equipment, supporting teacher training or partnering with us to extend chess education to more communities globally.