By Driven by the resolve to revive the reading culture in Nigeria, Bayode Olawunmi-Treasures in 2018 set a new Guinness World Record for “The Longest Reading Marathon” after he read for over 120 hours in five days.
His audacious feat has inspired millions of Nigerians and rekindled the interest in public reading and literary-related activities in the country.
“I could have chosen to dance or sing my way into the record books but I chose this path so that when people ask what I did to break the record, it would be said that I did so through reading,” Olawunmi-Treasures says.
Unrelenting in his quest to make the reading culture more appealing to the younger generation, the Ogun State-born alongside four other young Nigerians are on an attempt to set another Guinness World Record in the “Longest Marathon Read Aloud By A-Team” category.
Drawn from different geo-political regions in the country, the group will attempt to read for 480 hours — to beat the current record of 365 hours and 39 seconds set in the Dominican Republic in July 2001.
The team includes Maryam Abba Sadu and Zainab Wakil Mohammed from Borno State, Doubra Yeri from Bayelsa State, Preciouslight Ukachi from Imo State and Treasures-Olawunmi Bayode from Ogun State.
Read2Build, pioneered by his non-profit organization, iRead Afrika Foundation in partnership with the Lagos State Government, is also geared towards receiving donations and crowdfunding from well-meaning individuals, organizations and government.
The event is set to run from December 1 through December 21, 2021 at the Herbert Macaulay Library (You Read) at 338 Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos State.
It will be livestreamed non-stop for the entire duration. There will also be book sales, a media hub for conversations, guest readers and other side attractions. The event is open to members of the public as long as they follow the COVID-19 protocols of masking up, safe distancing and hand washing.
