A Nigerian, John Obot, is jogging at the brink in his attempt to clinch Guinness World Records of Longest marathon reading aloud diadem.
Despite Obot’s early impediment of starting all over again after forfeiting 50 hours to some glitches on Tuesday, September 12, the determined but prospective Guinness World record breaker has notched 100 hours as at 5 p.m. om Saturday, September 16, remaining 45 hours to score the vital goal.
Supported by Uyo Book Club, Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Snaeder, National Library of Nigeria, among others, Obot is promoting a reading culture and showcasing Nigerian literature.
Also read: Read-a-thon: Nigerian set to break new Guinness World Records
Obot is determined to surpass the previous record of 124 hours currently held by Rysbai Isakov from Kyrgyzstan in Turkey. He commenced this extraordinary feat on September 9, 2023, with the goal of reaching an astonishing 145 hours by September 17, 2023.
A Creative Director and Designer at Magnalia Digital Media Solutions, he has set out to read a remarkable collection of about 40 Nigerian books.
So far, John Obot has delved into Things Fall Apart by the renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. This groundbreaking novel, first published in 1958, marked Achebe’s debut in the literary world.
Among the other titles Obot has read aloud are Echoes of The Traditional Society by a Nigerian journalist Akpandem James, Civil War Child by Nestor Udoh, Ibibio Nation: History and Culture by Oto-Obong Uwah, Village Boy by Anietie Usen, and Eze Goes to School by Michael Crowder and Onuora Nzekwu.
Udeme Nana, founder Uyo Book Club said ‘‘Uyo Book Club is focusing and reawakening the dying reading culture among the people and to promote the reading culture, to refine sensibilities among the people in the knowledge that an enlightened populace is easier to govern particularly under democracy because the people know their rights. Overtime, we have taken time, organised conferences, going to schools, setting Uyo Book Club in various colleges and places.
Nana who is also the chief programme director of the exercise noted ‘‘Sometime in June this year, John Obot, one of our members came to tell me that he wants to embark on this marathon reading to beat an existing record and that he wants to read for 145 hours. I jumped at it because I knew that the adventure will bring honour to Akwa Ibom State, and to Uyo Book Club.
‘‘Overall, it was an attempt to push it to the faces of our leaders that intellectual tourism is a potential income earner. In fact, intellectual tourism is the next black gold. From what you can see, visitors from all walks of life have come here since we started, ‘’ he noted.
On what John Obot intends to achieve after breaking the record, the Uyo Book Club founder enumerated ‘‘Bragging right that he is a member of Uyo Book Club, bragging right that he is an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, bragging right that he is a young man who is determined and who exemplifies courage and creativity, grit, energy. These are some of the values that can inspire a generation of young people to dream dreams and take concrete steps to achieve their dreams. It will be a bragging right that an Akwa Ibom man has broken this record.’’
Ekong Sampson, Aniekpeno Mkpanang react too
For the 3rd Time, Senator Ekong Sampson Keeps Vigil With John Obot in Critical Night Time.
Senator Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South in the Senate, has continued to inspire at the ongoing Readmania. Late last night, for the 3rd time running, the Akwa Ibom South Senator visited marathoner John Obot at the City View Hall, Watbridge Hotels, Uyo.
Sampson, who is barely a week in the country, since his return from vacation, kept vigil with the Guinness World Record chaser in the critical night hours to cheer and encourage him. Later today, John Obot will surpass the 100hours milestone en route to the home run.
Also with the Akwa Ibom South Senator last night were the founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana, SSA to the Governor on Documentation, Essien Ndueso and Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Uyo Branch, Engr. Uwem Akpan, FNSE.
Also, Aniekpeno Mkpanang, a retired Permanent Secretary who visited the arena wrote ‘‘An audacious Akwa Ibom son is in the process of globalising himself, his State and his art. He seeks to set a brand new Guinness World Record for the longest hours of reading aloud.
His band of facilitators had curated a curiously impressive and remarkably impeccable venue for the feat and flagged off the intrepid young fellow in pursuit of history.
Mkpanang, a Guinness World’s Record holder noted ‘‘I went to the venue of the official Guinness World Record Attempt in solidarity with the Reader. My timing was apt. At 4.15pm on visiting day, he was reading Martin Akpan’s The Crumb Eaters and for me, that was just one aspect of the privilege; having to sit next to the inimitable bard and author of the book that was being read to a global audience; the other being that the reading gave me a chance to interface in flesh and blood with the seminal Dr. Udeme Nana, Progenitor of the Uyo Book Club and my brother-in-exile, whom I only meet virtually, but who was on hand ‘live’ to receive me in company of the sagacious Aloysius Amama, the Team Lead of the World Record Attempt.
”I spotted a glint from the corner of John’s eyes when he noticed my presence and in between the reading, managed to flash me a modest transient smile, escorting it with a double thumps up. That made my day. It was an instantaneous telepathic report that the inspiration we sought to bring was duly assimilated to good effect.
”In December 2014, I was privileged to lead the team that assembled 25,272 young people from every Local Government Area, every town, every village, every clan, every ward and every Church in Akwa Ibom State to set a new and existing Record for the largest Group of Carol Singers in the World.
”I felt it would be inspiring and efficacious to show up, World Record Certificate in tow, and buoy up John Obot on his odyssey for distinction and prominence.
So go, I did; in company of 31 persons, each from every Local Government Area in the State who were an integral part of the facilitating squad in our successful 2014 Attempt including Mr. Raphael Edem, ”Bishop’ Ebakabasi Etuk, Mr. Etiemana ‘Peniel’ Eyo, Dr. Elisha Atai, Idongesit Paul Inyang, Shalom Asuquo, and other unrepentantly ecletic budding professionals who have been involved in the Christmas Carols project in the State since inception.
”Midway into the 5th chapter of The Crumb Eaters, a buzzer sounded, signalling a 5 minute break for the Reader. I watched him literally coast across the floor and that was understandable for one who has been up and reading for hours on end. He floated away from the lectern and waltzed towards my corner.
”I was allowed only a couple of minutes from pleasantries to farewell. I utilized the abridged encounter to remind him of the dogged ethos of the Akwa Ibom person.
I recalled how we rode on the crest of the Uncommon Transformation Initiative of former Governor, now Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio to achieve the uncommon feat of setting a new Guinness World Record.
I also reminded Mr. Obot of how, in the wake of the Dakkada Initiative of former Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Hilda Baci recently successfully set her own Guinness Marathon Cooking World Record.
I rounded off by challenging John to seize the moment and become the foremost Ambassador of the Arise Agenda of current Governor Pastor Umo Eno by rising uncommonly to the faith of greatness and bringing home the highly-anticipated World Record.
”I will return to the venue of the Official Attempt come Sunday when the reading should come to a head and be counted among the euphoric crowd that will definitely be cheering him at the finishing end of the 145th hour. And as sure as the remaining hours keep going, we know that that final hour is coming,” Mkpanang added.
Mr Obot’s attempt at breaking the world record has received solidarity from several dignitaries, including First Lady of Akwa Ibom State Patience Eno, who had visited the hall, sat down and listened as he read from different books.
Michael Bush, media mogul and Aniefiok Nkom, the state Commissioner for Labour and ManpowerDevelopment also visited and listened to Obot’s reading.
Prior to Hilda Bacci’s achievement, a young 15-year-old Vincent Okezie made headlines in 2022 by setting four Guinness World Records.
