Igali Receives 14-year-old FIDE World Amateur Rapid Chess Champion, Ekunke
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali has received Nigeria’s Chess sensation, Goodness Ekunke after emerging as the inaugural champion of the International Chess Federation World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship, 2026 held in Lagos.
The 14-year-old chess prodigy produced a remarkable performance scoring 9/11 against a strong field to claim the historic title, finishing ahead of two experienced compatriots, Eugene Unwana and Bomo Kigigha, who were second and third, respectively, with 8½ points each.
Receiving the delegation at his office in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Dr Igali noted that the latest feat by Ekunke has shown how important the government has continued to prioritize sports, maintaining that the achievement reflects the deliberate policies of the Ministry and the Sports Council.
He asserted that there is something particularly satisfying about seeing young people conquering the world through intelligence, discipline, patience and courage, that Chess may be played in silence, but this victory speaks loudly for Bayelsa State and for Nigeria.
According to him, Ekunke’s latest achievement is a reminder that the sporting strength of Bayelsa is not limited to the track, football field, the wrestling mat or the weightlifting platform, pointing out that the children can compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
”On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Ministry of Sports Development, I want to warmly welcome you back to Bayelsa, the Glory of All Lands, and to express the very deep and sincere gratitude of His Excellency to you for the remarkable feat you achieved a few days ago in Abuja”
”The reason we exist is to compete. The reason we exist is to elevate the status of sports in Bayelsa. The reason we exist as a Ministry and indeed as a Sports Council is to ensure that everyone in Nigeria and the rest of the world knows what we are doing in the sports sector in Bayelsa State.
“What you have done has elevated that status, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts” Igali stated.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports Development, Mr. Pereyi Efeke in his remark, stated that the developmental programmes in Bayelsa have started yielding the desired result, urging the Chess team not to rest on its oars even as they represent Nigeria in the Olympiad.
Earlier in an address, Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mr. Bibowei Lambert, said the triumph was indicative of the council’s desire to see athletes blossom in the world, stating that he is happy that sports has again given Bayelsa global publicity, describing it as “laudable”.
While congratulating Ekunke and the chess team, Mr. Lambert informed the Commissioner that the feat has earned Goodness Ekunke and Bomo Kigigha qualification to represent Nigeria at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 16th through the 27th of September, 2026.
He opined that the Chess team’s remarkable performance in Lagos was a clear demonstration of Bayelsa’s dominance in Chess in the last couple of years, maintaining that the outcome speaks volumes of the council’s grassroots policies and programmes.
