16-year-old Nwokoro Nnanna Munachimso, a student of Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State, a talent to be reckoned with in chess has also proven to be a genius by coming out with a score of 345 in the just concluded Joint Administration Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Munachimso remarkable success in chess and academics, which can be attributed to his family, particularly his mother, has captured the attention of many Nigerians, who are still yet to understand the rationale behind his success coupled with JAMB’s decision to cease the annual announcement of top scorers, which appears to be politically influenced.
According to report, Munachimso has represented his school in various competitions, winning awards or securing a rank both within and outside Niger State, such as the 2023 Interswitch SPAK chess competition in Lagos, where he made it to the Semi Finals.
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Even though Munachimso’s dedication to the chess game has earned him awards in Nigeria, he however, recognizes the importance of education in shaping his future.
This commitment was reaffirmed when the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) released the results for the 2024 UTME Exams, revealing Munachimso’s outstanding score of 345 marks, placing him in the top 0.4% of JAMB’s score nationwide.
The mother of Munachimso took to her X handle to express how excited she was about the news.
she wrote, “My son Munachimso started playing chess with just his phone, I don’t have a chessboard at home, he’s either reading or playing chess with his phone or laptop. He does so well and tops the highest in senior category chess competition for secondary schools.”,
“I feel excited, I couldn’t sleep after seeing the results and I discovered that happiness can also hinder you from sleeping. I am so proud of him” she said.
As congratulatory messages poured in from all corners of the country, Munachimso remains focused on the future. He aspires to study Computer Engineering, as his preferred Robotics Engineering is currently unavailable in Nigerian universities.
Undeterred, Munachimso is determined to achieve his dream of becoming a Robotics Engineer and, he is preparing to sit for the SAT exam for potential scholarship opportunities abroad.
