Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu has awarded 19-year-old Idara Emmanuel total sponsorship to the 2022 African Juniors Chess Championship in Algeria.
Friday, October 21st 2022 is a good day for Nigerian Junior Chess player, Idara Emmanuel as he bagged Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu’s full sponsorship to the 2022 African Junior Chess Championship.
The 20-year-old chess player at a chance meeting with the Deputy Governor today got the favour from the sports-loving number two man of Edo State. Shaibu was on an unscheduled visit to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin when Mrs Sabina Chikere casually introduced the star player to him. The audience granted him turned out to be a great favour.
Idara Emmanuel qualified for the 8-day tournament after his accumulated performances for the year were recognized by the host and the Federation.
The highly elated Emmanuel said:
“I feel very glad and I appreciate the Deputy Governor’s gesture, I’m very grateful.”
“I happen to fall into the age bracket and going by my performances so far this year, I got the invitation from the hosts and the Nigerian Chess Federation.”
” I have been working for long and now that I have sponsorship, it is easier to just focus on my preparation as I won’t be bothered again over the thoughts of whether I will be able to go or not, so, I’m now focused on my training .”
“I will do my best to go there and do the country proud and use it to say thank you sir to the Deputy Governor for his sponsorship. I will never disappoint him with this gesture.
The tournament in conjunction with the FIDE Arbiter’s Seminar kicks off on 12th November and ends on the 20th November 2022, in Bejaia, Algeria.