Little did former Osun State Governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, know that his passion for education and for innovative learning tools during his time in office would blossom into something remarkable years later.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Aregbesola governed Osun State from 2011 to 2018. His administration was marked by several bold policies, ranging from infrastructural developments to expansive welfare initiatives like free school meals, free train rides for holiday travelers, free school buses, among others.
But the one that caught the attention of many was the introduction of a tablet, which he named the “Opon Imo,” a groundbreaking digital learning device. Opon-Imo in the Yoruba language can be loosely translated as “Tablet of Knowledge.”
“Opon Imo” was introduced as a digital educational tool meant to boost academic performance among secondary school students.
Installed with over 36 e-textbooks across various subjects, the device was distributed free of charge to thousands of students across public schools in the state. These are students whose parents had no access to television sets in their homes.
For many of the students, some of whom had never interacted with electronic gadgets before, the tablet was more than just a study tool. It was their first interaction with digital technology, offering a window into a world beyond their immediate environment.
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Despite its educational intention, the Opon Imo initiative was met with criticism and conspiracy theories. Some accused Aregbesola of embedding Ifa corpus into the device, while others saw it as an attempt to spiritually manipulate or indoctrinate young minds. The backlash was fierce from certain religious and political quarters, casting shadows over what many now see as visionary.
As novel as the idea was and despite its educational intention, it was met with stiff opposition from some quarters. Some of the opposition was the attribution of religious sentiments to the tablet, with some alleging that Aregbesola of installing the Ifa corpus into the tablet. Others saw it as an attempt to spiritually manipulate or indoctrinate young minds. The backlash was fierce from certain religious and political quarters.
Undeterred by these allegations, Ogbeni Aregbesola proceeded with the initiative believing in its long term benefits. Not long after, Osun’s performance in national examinations like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) began to improve significantly.
Several years later, that revolutionary education idea is now yielding fruits in the most unexpected ways, not just in academics but in shaping minds for strategy, focus, and global competition.
On Tuesday, a young Nigerian man, Francis Kayode Samuel — known on X (formerly Twitter) as @TheOnkyFOKS — shared a heartfelt post that has since captivated many. In it, he attributed his journey into the game of chess to the Opon Imo.
“My love for Chess… started playing randomly on the ‘Opon Imo’ shared by the then Governor of Osun State, @raufaregbesola. And that has pushed me up till date,” he wrote.
Maybe this is a story I’ll share one day.
“My Love for Chess”…
Started playing chess randomly on the “Opon Imo” (Tablet) shared by the then Governor of Osun State, @raufaregbesola.
And, that has pushed me up till date.
Well, like Sir @Tunde_OD will say… pic.twitter.com/FFhOwapMky
— FOKS (@TheOnlyFOKS) June 17, 2025
At the time, Opon Imo had just one game — Chess — installed on it, deliberately excluding other games to avoid distraction from studies. For many, it was a minor footnote. But for Francis, it planted the seed of strategic thinking that would define his path.
He continued, “I could remember then. He (Aregbesola) shared tablets for all secondary school students for FREE in Osun State, and I was one of the beneficiaries.
“The tablets were meant for study, and the only game installed on them was ‘Chess’. I believe Ogbeni @raufaregbesola knew and understood the power of Chess, and the impact it could make.”
What began as idle curiosity soon developed into serious interest. From playing casually on the tablet, Francis began to study the game, understand its intricacies, and sharpen his skills.
Over time, he not only became passionate about chess but began participating in tournaments, eventually earning recognition as a chess enthusiast and rising champion.
Francis credits part of his inspiration to popular chess advocate and Guiness World Record champion Tunde Onakoya, who he says has been a great motivation.
He also extended appreciation to Ogbeni Aregbesola, whose foresight, he insists, changed his life.
“Well, like Sir @Tunde_OD would say, ‘It is possible to do great things from a small place.’
So, I’m sure that, with Chess, I’m going to do great things from a small place.”
Though Aregbesola has since left office, the ripple effects of his initiatives remain. What was once a policy to improve academic performance has now extended into cultivating mental discipline, critical thinking, and strategy among young minds.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
Related posts:
Opon Imo: How Aregbesola Laid Foundation For Digital Education In Nigeria, By Inwalomhe Donald
The Role of Technology in Education: Lessons and Inspirations from Osun’s Opón Ìmò
Opon Imo: How Aregbesola Laid Foundation For Digital Education In Nigeria
WAEC National Office Pays Confession Visit to Aregbesola, Calls Opon Imo a Breakthrough
