Platform Schools, Ipaja, has taken the top spot at the 2026 Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship, securing the secondary school crown.
The Lagos-based institution locked down 16 points to finish first, earning a ₦2.5 million grand prize in a massive nationwide tournament that featured over 1,500 students representing 300 schools.
The fierce competition saw Dayspring School claim the runner-up spot along with a ₦2 million prize, while King’s College Lagos followed closely in third place to take home ₦1.5 million. Meanwhile, the primary school category delivered an inspiring story as Chess in Slums Africa, representing the Makoko community, triumphed over its peers, winning intense praise for cultivating elite talent within an underserved community.
Amir Obe, a student from the winning squad, highlighted that the gold medal came after months of daily practice matches and deep tactical preparation.
The competition, supported by Ecobank, utilizes chess to drive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, fostering problem-solving skills and patience in young Nigerians. Platform Schools’ founder, Bola Obe, stated that the intellectual game is intentionally woven into their curriculum to prepare students for international relevance.
Beyond the school achievements, the Nigeria Chess Federation’s Vice-President, Adeyinka Adewole, revealed that the country is steadily approaching its first Grandmaster title.
He noted that Nigeria’s peak player rating has jumped from 2,290 to 2,359 over the past year, bringing the nation closer than ever to the required 2,500 Grandmaster benchmark.
