Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, revealed his ambition to become a billionaire with global influence during an interview on the Afropolitan podcast. While known for his philanthropic work teaching chess to underprivileged children, Onakoya stated, "I want to make a lot of money...and have a lot of power" to expand his impact.
- Beyond charity: Seeks to transcend being "just the chess in slums guy" through wealth creation
- Power paradox: Aims to wield influence while maintaining focus on children's welfare
- Cultural shift: Represents a new generation of Nigerian social entrepreneurs blending profit and purpose
Onakoya's ambition mirrors the chessboard itself - understanding that real change requires controlling more than just pawns. His desire for billionaire status isn't greed, but recognition that in today's world, knights (activists) need queen-level resources to checkmate systemic poverty. The Yoruba say: "Igi ganganran má gùn kì í f'ẹ́ṣọ́ bọ́ ọlá" (A mighty tree doesn't use leaves to declare its majesty). Perhaps social impact, too, needs the strong trunk of wealth to support its branches. Yet the danger remains, will the pursuit of power corrupt the purity of purpose? Onakoya bets his legacy that one can play the capitalist game without losing the activist's soul.
Can social impact and billionaire ambitions truly coexist, or does one inevitably compromise the other?
Sources: Afropolitan podcast, Chess in Slums Africa
