To:

• Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC)
• Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC)
• The Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival Main Organising Committee (MOC)

We, the undersigned chess players, coaches, arbiters, parents, organisers, and supporters of Nigerian chess, respectfully call on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival Main Organising Committee (MOC) to urgently restore chess as an official medal sport at the 2026 Nigeria National Sports Festival in Enugu.

Chess has long been part of the National Sports Festival, providing a national platform where talented Nigerians from all states compete for medals and recognition. From earlier editions, the chess event has showed strong participation and produced champions from Lagos, Ogun, FCT, Bayelsa, Oyo, Delta, and many other states. Removing chess from Enugu 2026 abruptly cuts off this established pathway for talent discovery and development.

The National Sports Commission has confirmed that only twenty sports have been approved for Enugu 2026 and that chess is not on that list. Public statements have already noted that “chess will not feature at the 2026 National Sports Festival in Nigeria,” a decision that has caused deep concern among stakeholders across the country. This exclusion sends the wrong message to thousands of young Nigerians who have invested time, energy, and resources to represent their states in chess at the Festival.

Chess is one of the most inclusive and cost‑effective sports in Nigeria. It requires minimal equipment, can be played in both urban and rural communities, and is already embedded in schools, universities, and grassroots clubs nationwide. It builds critical thinking, concentration, discipline, resilience, and good sportsmanship, qualities that Nigeria needs in its next generation of leaders.

At the international level, Nigerian chess players are increasingly visible and competitive, and many of them first gained national exposure through events like the National Sports Festival and national championships. Excluding chess from Enugu 2026 contradicts the country’s broader goals of youth empowerment, education, and global sporting relevance.

We therefore call on the Ministry of Sports Development, the NSC, and the Enugu 2026 MOC to:

1. Reinstate chess as a full medal sport at the 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu.
2. Engage immediately with the Nigeria Chess Federation and key stakeholders to design a lean, well‑structured chess event that fits within the existing Festival budget and logistics.
3. Publicly affirm that chess is a strategic sport for Nigeria’s youth development and will remain part of future National Sports Festivals.

This petition is initiated by Bruvschess Media, together with members of the Nigerian chess community, to amplify the voices of players, coaches, parents, arbiters, organisers, and fans who want to see chess restored to its rightful place at Enugu 2026. Through responsible coverage, storytelling, and advocacy, we are committed to drawing national attention to this issue and to supporting constructive engagement between chess stakeholders and the relevant authorities.

We respectfully urge you to reconsider the current decision and restore chess to its rightful place at the 2026 Nigeria National Sports Festival.