Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has met with Mary Victor Zira, a young girl from an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Adamawa State, who has risen to international recognition as a chess champion.
The 12-year-old chess prodigy had won a silver medal at the prestigious Chess and Community Tournament in the United States.
Competing alongside her teammate Ivie Clement Urieto, Mary secured second place and a $100 cash prize, marking a significant milestone in her rising chess career.
Atiku, in a post shared on his Facebook page on Friday night, praised Mary’s inspiring journey from displacement to global acclaim, describing it as a powerful symbol of hope and opportunity.
“The story of Mary Zira is a story of opportunity and hope,” the former vice president wrote. “From uncertainty, today she’s a world-class Chess champion. I am deeply grateful to the AUN Feed and Read team for discovering Mary,” he wrote.
Atiku also used the opportunity to call attention to the plight of other children displaced by conflict across Nigeria, urging more support for their education and development.
“There are many more Marys whose future continues to be ruined by the devastation of insecurity across the country,” he stated. “Little efforts by good-spirited individuals and organisations can make a big difference towards a better future for the victims.”
Mary Victor Zira was discovered by Vivian Ibrahim, the founder of the ‘Chess In IDP Camps’ initiative. Her talent was identified through chess training sessions organised in the camps. Since then, Mary has participated in several international tournaments, including a community chess event in Athens, Georgia, where she won a0 silver medal, and the United Nations Games in New York, USA.
She is currently in Grade 8 at AUN Academy and hails from the EYN IDP Camp in Wauro Jabbe.
Mary was among five children selected from the Chess in IDP Camps initiative and Chess in Slums programme to travel to the U.S. for the Chess and Community Programme.
