From Biscuits to the United Nations: How Vivian Ibrahim Is Changing Lives Through Chess
In the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps of northeastern Nigeria, chess is becoming far more than just a game. Through the efforts of Vivian Ibrahim, children growing up amid uncertainty are finding focus, confidence, and a path back to education. From local camps to the halls of the United Nations, this remarkable journey shines light on the power chess has in reshaping lives.
Photo: Vivian Ibrahim
It started with biscuits.
When Vivian Ibrahim first walked into an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in northeastern Nigeria, she wasn’t sure how a group of children, many of whom had grown up around conflict and uncertainty, would respond to chess.
So she made a simple offer:
Join the class, get a biscuit.
Some came for the food.
But they stayed for the game.
What began as a small experiment has since grown into something far bigger, taking children from remote camps to national tournaments, international stages, and even the United Nations.
Vivian at one of her chess camps | Photo: Vivian Ibrahim
A chance encounter
Vivian’s own journey with chess began at the age of 14, in a boarding school hostel. When a senior brought a chessboard, curiosity drew her in. She instantly fell in love with the game. Within months, she was competing and representing her school. She recalls winning Best Female Player in that tournament, the first time she had ever won anything in her life. It was a feeling she didn’t forget.
Her success, however, came not because of the resources available to her, but in spite of them. There were no coaches, no books, and no structured training. Improvement came from sheer passion and hours spent solving positions on Lichess using her phone.
At the Nigerian University Games, when someone asked her what her rating was, she was perplexed.
"What is a rating?" Vivian remembers asking.
That moment revealed something deeper, the absence of chess infrastructure in her region. It became a turning point, shaping a mission that would define her journey: ensuring that future generations would not face the same limitations.
From Beauty Queen to Chess Convener
After she left school, inter-school chess tournaments in her region faded away. Vivian resolved to change that. She organized an open tournament with no entry fee. The response was immediate. Players travelled from neighboring states. It was clear: the interest existed. What was missing was access. “There was hunger for chess,” she says. “Just no opportunity.”
Not everything was smooth sailing though.
Some members of the community viewed chess as gambling. Others saw it as conflicting with religious beliefs. Changing this perception required persistence and proof. “I told them let us try. If it doesn’t bring value, then you can criticize it” says Vivian. Leveraging her platform as former Miss Adamawa (beauty pageant winner), she used social media to change the narrative, explaining the intellectual benefits of the game.
At the same time, her work in IDP camps during her pageant years had already exposed her to a different reality.
Families living in tents.
No electricity.
Education out of reach.
For many, life revolved around survival. Finding the next meal, working in farms, getting by.
Vivian saw an opportunity to connect two worlds.
QueenVee Chess Academy and the "Biscuit" Strategy
To scale her efforts, Vivian started the QueenVee Chess Academy, where paying students helped fund free training for children in IDP camps. When she first introduced chess in the camps, it was unfamiliar territory. The children had never seen the game before.
So she kept things simple.
The early sessions were built around curiosity and biscuits.
It worked.
Soon, the children were coming not for the treats, but for the game itself.
The spirit of these children is unmatched. When younger kids were denied access to boards by the older ones, they didn't give up; they crafted their own chess sets out of mud so they could continue practicing.
The power of the internet and the kindness of people
Vivian regularly shared her work online. The Gift of Chess initiative noticed her work and partnered with her to distribute chess sets across northern Nigeria. When Vivian began this work, an unexpected donation of 50,000 naira came in. She used this money to send 11 kids back to school.
Vivian decided to trust the power of the internet once again and made an appeal on LinkedIn. She shared her progress and asked for support to cover books and school supplies. That's when another kind stranger, an Indian living in the USA responded and donated $600. It was a turning point.
More children went to school. More resources became available. The initiative grew.
From Camps to Competition
Noticing that the kids were getting stronger at chess with each passing day, Vivian brought in stronger local players to train them. Soon Vivian found herself approaching the Adamawa state sports council. Her pitch to them was simple. "I have some really strong chess players. Adamawa has not been represented in chess for a while. Please help me in giving these kids an opportunity to showcase their talent" Vivian told the authorities.
They accepted, and the children travelled, many for the first time in their lives. Some had never left the camp before.
They competed. They lost. They cried.
“I like when they cry after losing,” Vivian says. “It shows they care.”
And then, they started winning.
One of her strongest students, Timothy, embodies this transformation. He now defeats players who once taught him the game. But more than that, he carries a deep sense of pride in competition.
There is no leniency. No compromise.
For him and many others, chess is not a pastime.
It is purpose.
Mary Victor Zira
Among all the stories that have emerged from the camps, one stands out. Mary Victor Zira.
Vivian first noticed her not at the chessboard, but in conversation. There was clarity in the way she spoke, a sharpness that stood out immediately. When invited, Mary joined the chess sessions. Soon her talent for the game was apparent.
During an interaction, Mary was asked a simple question -“What do you want in life?”
Mary paused. “From God or from humans?”
From God, she said, she wanted wisdom.
From humans, she wanted her parents to be able to pay her school fees.
Not long after, an opportunity presented itself. Through connections built via the chess community and the visibility Vivian’s work had begun to receive, Mary was selected to travel abroad as part of a chess program.
For a girl who had grown up in an IDP camp, this was unimaginable.
She travelled to Georgia in the United States and participated in an international chess event. There, she won a silver medal. A remarkable achievement in itself, but only part of a much larger journey.
Her story began to spread.
Soon, Mary found herself at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
Standing in a room far removed from everything she had known growing up, she introduced herself and spoke briefly about her journey, about chess and about where she came from.
Recognizing both her talent and her determination, Vivian knew that Mary needed more than just exposure, she needed access to quality education. Through a combination of outreach and support from well-wishers, funds were arranged to enroll her in one of the best schools in the region. The transition was not easy. On her first day, Mary was overwhelmed, emotional, and unsure of what lay ahead. But this was a turning point. From a life in an IDP camp to a structured academic environment, she was now stepping into a world of possibilities. One where her potential could be nurtured, and her future shaped with intention.
More than just a game
Back in the camps, the impact of chess continues to unfold in quieter, but equally powerful ways. Children who once had no access to education are now among the top performers in their classes. Some of them, without being asked, donate a portion of their tournament earnings back to the camp. In one instance, when a child missed out on selection for a tournament, the others shared their prize money with him, as if he had been part of the team. It is not just about competition. There is a deep sense of community and belonging.
The road ahead
Despite everything that has been achieved, significant challenges remain. Vivian shares that Northern Nigeria still lacks the infrastructure required to host rated chess tournaments-a crucial step in giving these children global recognition. There are no international arbiters in the region. No access to DGT boards. No structured pathway into the formal rating system.
For Vivian, this is the next frontier.
“I want the world to know that there are chess players here,” she says.
About the Gift of Chess
"The Gift of Chess" is a non-profit organization whose aim is to distribute 1 million chess sets across the world by 2030. They believe, chess is the great equalizer, a shared universal language that can help expand opportunities for all! Chess breaks down barriers and facilitates connection across age, race, gender and socioeconomic status. Heads of state can sit across the chessboard from children from the slum communities and be perfectly equal. The Gift of Chess is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charity, in the US. Currently they have reached 70 countries globally and are planning to reach every single country.
Important links
Vivian Ibrahim Facebook
Vivian Ibrahim Instagram
The Gift of Chess website
The Gift of Chess Twitter
The Gift of Chess Instagram
About the author
Kartik Krishnan works at ChessBase India, leading partnerships and strategic initiatives across events, media, and grassroots development. He plays an active role in expanding the Gift of Chess programme across India.
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