In an awe-inspiring feat of endurance and dedication to literacy, a group of five Nigerians has concluded an 18-day reading marathon, clocking in over 431 hours in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon of reading aloud.
The event, which took place at a Lagos restaurant, saw three men and two women take turns reading non-stop from a collection of 79 books authored by Nigerian writers. The marathoners, who included Precious Ukachi, John Obot, Stephen Oyelami, Temitope Ogunremi, and Ketura Heman, aimed to surpass the current record of 365 hours and 39 seconds, set by a team from the Dominican Republic in 2011. The final timer at the end of their attempt showed 431 hours, 31 minutes, and 25 seconds.
Throughout the grueling challenge, the team was supported by a continuous stream of online and in-person well-wishers who cheered them on. The marathon, part of the “Naija ReadFest” campaign, was conceived to promote a reading culture and raise awareness about literacy in Africa’s most populous country.
According to the participants, the hardest part of the marathon was reading through the night with limited rest. However, what kept them going was a shared passion for promoting education and celebrating Nigerian literature. The books read covered a wide range of topics, from literary fiction to self-help, reflecting the diverse landscape of Nigerian authorship.
The nonprofit behind the event will now submit all the necessary evidence to Guinness World Records for official verification. The process can take several weeks, but the organizers are confident that their historic effort will be recognized, shining a global spotlight on Nigeria’s literary community and its commitment to fostering a love for reading.
