Senator Ben Murray Bruce has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to recognize Tanitoluwa Adewumi, the 8-year-old Nigerian boy who has made Nigeria pr
Senator Ben Murray Bruce has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to recognize Tanitoluwa Adewumi, the 8-year-old Nigerian boy who has made Nigeria proud by dominating the game of Chess in New York, USA. Speaking via his Twitter handle, he said if the Presidency refuses to honor him, they might lose him to the USA just like Anthony Joshua was lost to England
We refused to celebrate @anthonyfjoshua, and England took him from us. Now God has given us a genius in the form of 8 year old Tanitoluwa Adewumi. I appeal to President @MBuhari: Acknowledge this boy and use him to inspire Nigeria’s youth (who are NOT lazy), or we lose him to USA
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) March 20, 2019
Already, former President Bill Clinton has not only praised the boy for his courage an talent, he has also sought audience with him and his family.
Tanitoluwa Adewumi, who emerged the winner of the state-wide New York’s chess championship in the third-grade category, lives in a Manhattan homeless shelter with his family. His family comprising of himself, his parents and older brother arrived in New York after fleeing Nigeria in 2017 due to fear of terror attacks from the group Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. They have sought asylum and an immigration hearing has been scheduled for August, 2019.
Tani started learning chess last year alongside his classmates. He went on to join his school’s chess club. The club’s organizer waived the fees for him because of his family’s financial situation. Though he started out as the lowest-rated member of the club, he quickly improved and is now bringing his school statewide recognition.
