Guinness World Records and Nigerians

Since Hilda Baci achieved recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest cooking time, there has been a surge in Nigerians showcasing their cooking skills. Nigeria has become one big kitchen.

Suddenly, Nigeria has become a hub of record-breaking attempts, leading to what can be described as a “Guinness World Record pandemic” in the country.

It all began with Nigerian chef Damilola Adeparusi from Ekiti, who announced her own cookathon. However, a video surfaced online in which she requested financial assistance, contradicting claims that she had millions in her account following her 120-hour cooking marathon.

Following suit, another Nigerian chef named Adeyeye Adeola expressed her aim to break Baci’s record. She took to Twitter, stating her intention to cook for 150 hours in order to surpass Chef Baci’s achievement. Adeola has already commenced her 150-hour cook-a-thon, attempting to break the recent record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Not limited to cooking, there have been some rather ridiculous attempts by individuals in pursuit of their own world records. Joshua Hassan, a lecturer at Ekiti State University, plans to surpass the 144-hour lecture record set by an Indian lecturer named Francis Joseph in 2016. Joseph, a chemical engineering lecturer at Holy Grace Academy of Engineering in Mala, secured the title after surpassing Arvind Mishra, an assistant mechanical engineering professor at Graphic Era University in Dehradun, India, who lectured for 139 hours, 42 minutes, and 56 seconds in 2014.

Comedian Woli Arole also joined the trend, announcing his plan to break a Guinness World Record by initiating a 5,000-hour marathon of prayers, aiming to surpass the record for the longest continuous prayer time.

Additionally, a painter and 2D artist named Oyinlola is aspiring to break the Guinness World Record for the longest painting marathon. Currently, the record is held by Ronald Palmaerts, who painted for 60 consecutive hours in 2013.

Furthermore, there have been talks about a proposed three-day event called KISS-A-THON, organised by individuals in Ekiti state, with the aim of setting a Guinness World Record for the longest kissing marathon.

It appears that many Nigerians have recently discovered the existence of the Guinness World Records, as the organisation must be inundated with inquiries from the country. While there is no issue with people attempting to set their own records, the lack of originality and the record-breaking trend in Nigeria is concerning.

I would also like to propose some Nigerian records for our public officials and agencies to break. For instance, can our power holding companies supply electricity for 24 consecutive hours for one week without the national grid collapsing? Over the past decades, we have faced persistent power issues, with successive administrations promising to generate at least 10,000MW. Sadly, there has been no significant progress, as we have been unable to generate more than 5,000MW without experiencing grid failures.

Additionally, can we witness a marathon of good governance from our elected leaders at all levels? It should involve leaders who prioritise the people’s interests and serve them selflessly. Is it truly challenging to find altruistic leaders at all levels of government?

Moreover, can we establish a record in Nigeria where every issue and crime is based on facts rather than emotions? Can we address matters without bringing ethnicity and religion into the equation?

The recent controversy surrounding the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result manipulation saga involving the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and a 19-year-old candidate named Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme turned into yet another tribalistic issue. Most people failed to focus on the main problem, instead turning it into an “us versus them” situation.

Furthermore, can we achieve a one-month marathon without sit-at-home orders in the Southeast, where everyone can freely engage in their normal activities on Mondays without harassment?

Lastly, can we establish a record where we don’t hear stories of bandits killing or abducting people for at least three months in the Northwest and North Central regions? Can we significantly reduce insurgency and banditry?

Is it possible for Nigeria to participate in any sporting competition without hearing about unpaid allowances and salaries? Can we, for once, prioritize our sports and ensure that all financial issues are resolved before any competition takes place?

It is my hope that these suggestions will contribute to a more positive and progressive Nigeria, where original achievements are celebrated, and pressing issues are addressed with factual analysis and unity.