Forced Move
Tanitoluwa Adewumi and his family were victims of a widespread terrorist attack inflicted by Boko Haram on Christians in northern Nigeria. In a bid to secure the future of their children, Tanitoluwa’s family migrated to the USA in 2017.
Getting to the US was one thing, providing the much needed amenities for the family suddenly became a much difficult task for the youngster’s parents.
The family was left with no other choice but to move to a Manhattan homeless shelter, where they currently reside.
Award winning Cuban-American singer and songwriter, Carmila Cabello, has donated $10,000 to a GOFundMe campaign for 8-year old Nigerian refugee, Tanitoluwa Adewumi.
Suffice is to say that life as a young black refugee in a western community, even more so one without basic resources, is riddled with great difficulty.
Through It All
Despite the obvious challenges, Tanitoluwa took up playing chess only about a year ago after a part-time teacher waived his fee to join the local elementary school’s chess club.
Today, Tanitoluwa is the New York State Chess Champion in his age category.
An act of providence or a product of sheer will?
Either way, this Nigerian took a hold of his destiny.
The story of a young Nigerian boy living in a shelter, now turned state chess champion, has gained notable media attention in the past week after Tanitoluwa was profiled in The New York Times.
Award winning Cuban-American singer and songwriter, Carmila Cabello, has donated $10,000 to a GOFundMe campaign for the 8-year old, and the GoFundMe campaign set up for his family has more than tippled its original goal of $50,000, thanks to generous donations from the likes of Cabello and others.
Click here to find out more about the GoFundMe campaign for Tanitoluwa.
Featured image source: Punch Newspapers
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