Godsent Ogbebor– Abuja Correspondent
Nigerians Aim for Guinness Record with 431-Hour Reading Marathon
In Lagos, Nigeria, five young readers have attempted to set a Guinness World Record after reading aloud continuously for over 431 hours, an effort aimed at celebrating Nigerian literature and drawing attention to the country’s literacy challenges.
The group; John Obot, Precious Ukachi, Stephen Oyelami, Temitope Ogunremi, and Ketura Heman, took turns reading day and night for 18 days, covering 79 books written by Nigerian authors.
Their attempt surpassed the existing record of 365 hours set in the Dominican Republic in 2011. The Guinness World Records is yet to confirm the new achievement.
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The marathon, organized by Naija ReadFest, was streamed online and drew support from people across the country and beyond. Organizers say the event was designed not only to break a record but to encourage reading culture and promote inclusive education in Africa’s most populous nation.
Some of the participants said they were inspired by the need to make books more accessible, noting that many Nigerians grow up in communities where access to libraries and quality reading materials is scarce. “Most people don’t have access to books, and I participated to encourage inclusive education,” said Ukachi, one of the readers.
Nigeria’s literacy rate remains low, with over 10 million children currently out of school. Education advocates blame years of poor funding and weak policies for the slow progress in improving literacy levels. Authors also point to the lack of investment in the sector, making it difficult for writers to thrive.
Despite these challenges, the reading marathon has been hailed as a symbolic step in promoting books and writers while reminding leaders of the urgent need to prioritize education.
