Eko Hotels & Suites is – once again – spreading its tentacles beyond its core business of hospitality, this time to make strategic moves in youth development and empowerment, as it officially backs the inaugural ChessMasters tournament, set to take place on May 3, 2025 at the hotel’s iconic Convention Centre.
Speaking at a press conference recently in Lagos, Managing Director Ghassan Faddoul emphasised the hotel’s commitment to community development through initiatives like the chess tournament, which aims to equip children with skills that extend far beyond the game.
“There are different angles behind this event,” Faddoul said. “First, developing children. Eko Hotels has been in this country for the past 50 years and has become an institutionm it is not only about making money and growth. It is also about developing the new generation to become leaders in this nation.”
According to him, chess offers critical cognitive benefits that align with leadership development. “It develops critical thinking, it develops strategic thinking, it develops forecasting, projecting, calmness,” he noted. “All of these will help the children develop for the future.”
The ChessMasters tournament is a joint initiative by the founders of KEY Academy and Art Twenty-One in collaboration with Chess in Slums Africa, while Eko Hotels provides not just the venue, but institutional support. Faddoul called it part of the institution’s broader social responsibility mandate.
“We are not just a hotel… we are here to give back to the community.”
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Caline Chagoury Moudaber, Director of Eko Hotels and Founder of Art Twenty-One, shared the origin of the idea.
“Well, we have children who love chess, who play chess, and we just came together and thought there’s something that we can do to maybe elevate the game. I approached Dami, we were brainstorming, and I told her I think we can do this.” She said. “There’s also a lot of inspiration with Chess in Slums and what they do.”
Co-founder of the initiative and KEY Academy founder Mrs. Damilola Okonkwo spoke of the long-term vision behind the tournament.
“This is the first edition… Our plan is to expand beyond Lagos to other cities across the country,” she said. “And beyond that, we want to expand to other countries across the continent.”
She highlighted the tournament’s inclusive approach, with participation open to both public and private primary schools as well as the Chess in Slums community. Schools register teams of five players and two coaches on the event’s website www.keyacademyng.org/chessmasters for a nominal fee, with ₦5 million in prize money up for grabs across various categories.
“It’s not a one-off,” Okonkwo affirmed. “We’re establishing something we want to hold every single year, right here in Lagos, at the heart of it within Eko Hotels.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
