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Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, received Bayode Treasures-Olawunmi, who set a new Guinness World Record in the longest reading marathon.
Bayode, who was received by the governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, set the new record under the Read Aloud project co-sponsored by the state government, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and Tagheuer, among others.
The new record was set at exactly 3:30 pm on Saturday at the YouRead Library,Yaba, Lagos, after Bayode read for 120 hours non-stop over a period of five days.
He beat former record holder, Nepali Deepak Sharma, who read for 113 hours and 15 minutes in 2008.
Speaking to Government House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the state government was delighted to host the new world record holder, and that the government was proud of the feat.
“The governor met him (Bayode), to congratulate him and assured him that the whole of the state and the country is proud of his attempt to break the world record.
“All said and done, we are still waiting on the Guinness Book to get back to us to confirm and affirm the new record but regardless, what the governor was trying to emphasise is the fact that his attempt was very commendable,” Bank-Olemoh said.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, said the new world record was extra-ordinary and a different kind of endurance test with a lot of intellectualism.
“I think Bayode is the ultimate dreamer who is sending a message to Lagosians, Nigerians and to Africans that they can do it and I think this will fit in perfectly well with the new concept that the Ministry of Education is coming up with, known as Lagos Reads.
“I believe,of course, Bayode will be one of the ambassadors for Lagos Reads which is to encourage people to read and there is a lot of joy, fulfillment and value in reading,” Ayorinde said.
On his part, Bayode said he was overwhelmed and fulfilled to set the new world record, saying his intention of embarking on the project was to make reading popular and famous in Nigeria and Africa, as well as change the narrative that “if you want to hide anything from the black man, put it in the book.”
“The western world is not built on the back of entertainment and sports; it is built on the back of education, research, reading and intellectual exertion.
“I believe in a way it has been accomplished but it is a seed sown already and we are going to water it to ensure that there is harvest in the next five to 10 years,” Bayode said.
