Tunde Onakoya Reveals Regret Over School Stereotypes

Tunde Onakoya reveals how secondary school stereotypes pushed him from arts, affecting career choices despite his talent in debate and aspiration to be a lawyer

Nigerian chess player and Guinness World Record holder Tunde Onakoya has shared what he describes as one of the greatest regrets of his life, highlighting the impact of school stereotypes on career choices.

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On his X handle, Onakoya explained that in secondary school, he was led to believe that art classes were for “dullards” while science classes were reserved for the “smart” students.

He revealed that he excelled in debate and had aspired to become a lawyer, but was discouraged from pursuing arts.

“One of my greatest regrets in life was letting the teachers in my secondary school convince us that Art class was for dullards and Science class for the smartest students.

I was excellent at debates, loved words and really wanted to be a lawyer but they wouldn’t let me,” Onakoya said.

The chess champion emphasised the wider implications of such stereotypes, noting that they influence the decisions of many children regarding education and career paths.

“They made that choice for me before I understood what it meant. I’m pretty sure this was a moment that altered the trajectory of the lives of so many Nigerian kids,” he added.

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Onakoya’s reflections shed light on the pressures students face in Nigeria’s education system and the lasting effect of societal and institutional biases on young people’s ambitions.