Tanitoluwa, Nigerian Refugee-Chess Champion Granted Asylum By The US

Tanitoluwa Adewunmi, the twelve-year-old Nigerian refugee who won the NY State chess championship in has been granted, alongside his family, asylum by the government of the United States of America.

Asylum is referred to as the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their home country as a refugee.

Tani’s family had reportedly fled Nigeria for the US to seek religious asylum on account of the Boko Haram crisis in 2017.

At 8, Tani made the headlines after winning the 2019 New York chess championship by defeating 73 other opponents while living in a homeless center.

Last year, Tani won yet another competition to officially become a national chess master in the US.

According to Washington Post, the little boy was thrilled after his family’s request for asylum was granted by the US government.

“It feels amazing because it’s been such a long journey. I’m just grateful that we’ve gotten this opportunity,” he said.