The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Chess4Change Season 2 Press Conference was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at the Best Western Hotel Victoria Island.
The Press Conference which marks the commencement of the second season of the PwC sponsored initiative was attended by Mrs Babs Akinyeye – Director, Co-Curricular Services, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Mr. Pedro Omontuemhen – Partner, PwC and Delia Asuzu – Head, Client & Market Development PwC, Mr Jimmy Sogbesan; Executive Director, MediaVision Limited (Project Consultants), Principals and students of participating schools, representatives of the Lagos State Chess Association and members of the Press.
PwC Chess4Change is an innovative concept designed to use the game of Chess to develop strategic thinking as well as re-direct and harness the potential in our youths, thereby empowering them to compete in an ever-changing world.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Omontuemhen asserted that studies have shown that playing chess improves memory and focus of students which positively affect their academic performance. He went on to state that PwC decided to sponsor this initiative as a way of building the mental capacity of the youths.
Mrs. Asuzu – PwC while speaking on the donation of chess sets, chess clocks and laptops to participating schools reiterated PwC’s commitment to the program while charging the students to make the best use of the donated materials
In her speech, Mrs Akinyeye thanked the sponsors for throwing their weight behind the upliftment of the youth in Lagos State through this initiative and also implored the students to grab this opportunity with both hands as chess can take them far.
Mr. Sogbesan whilst thanking the sponsors and the Ministry of Education for their support in the first edition of the project assured all stakeholders that the initiative which has already recorded significant success will continue to enrich and change lives as it spreads to more schools in Lagos.
Mr Adebayo Babalola from the Lagos State Chess Association promised everyone present that chess prodigies discovered during the program will be nurtured and eased into the programmes of the association.
The second edition of the Chess4Change program consist of Thirteen (13) schools from two Education Districts in Lagos an increase from the six that participated in the pilot scheme.
The tutoring sessions will commence in participating schools on Wednesday, October 14 2015 with the season climax – the Grand Slam Tournament – taking place in 2016.
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
