Wife of Osun State Governor, Erelu Ngozi Abeni Adeleke has urged Osun indigenes to rally round and support their son, Samson Ajao who is at the verge of making remarkable history in the Guinness World Record, Longest Marathon Reading Aloud event.
Erelu Ngozi Adeleke in a statement said ” ahead of the Word Guinness Record breaking event scheduled to hold on May 6, 2024 at the Oshogbo, Osun State capital when Samson Ajao will challenge the world record holder, Rysbai Isakov from Bursa, Turkey.”
Isakov, in 2022 hit the time of 124 hours starting from September 22 to 27, and has remained unchallenged till now. Optimistic Samson Ajao who has put all plans ahead of his trial, is targeting 214 hours non-stop reading aloud to beat the current champion.
In her message, Erelu Adeleke stated, “Osun State is on the brink of a historic moment as we prepare to achieve a remarkable feat and secure our place in the Guinness World Records with the Longest Marathon Reading Aloud event.
“The current record title holder, Rysbai Isakov from Bursa, Turkey, captivated audiences for an impressive 124 hours from September 22-27, 2022. Now, a proud youth and citizen of Osun State is poised to surpass this achievement and etch our name in history.
“I urge the men and women of Osun State and beyond to rally behind this noble initiative and show their support as we strive to set a new world record. Let us come together to support this milestone and showcase the spirit of resilience and excellence that defines us as Nigerians,” Erelu Adeleke added.
Meanwhile, speaking to Samson Ajao, a passionate reader, creative writer and staff of a law firm, explained the reasons for embarking on such arduous task of marathon read aloud.
Ajao noted that the dearth of reading culture in the country prompted him to go for it as a means of encouraging Nigerians to embrace the culture of ‘reading a book a day.’ He also noted that he is mentally, physically and emotionally prepared for the challenge.
“I applied to the Guinness World Record for this competition and it was approved with a date to commence. Having secured an official go ahead order from GWR, I began preparation for it. I am very optimistic that it would be an easy sail for me as a voracious reader,” Ajao added.