Dr. Fola David, the Nigerian medical doctor and visual artist who on July 21, 2024 successfully broke and set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest painting by an individual, has expressed his gratitude to Tolaram, the Singaporean business conglomerate, for supporting him all the way in his quest to make history for the country.
David was speaking at a media presentation organised in his honour by Tolaram at the company’s corporate head office in Lagos.
He noted with delight the support he received from Tolaram over the years, saying that the relationship which has been instrumental to the achievement of his dream was a journey that began nine years ago.
He also expressed his gratitude to the firm for supporting his social cause over the years through its donations to his foundation, established to provide succour to the less privileged in the society.
Commenting on his recent feat, David described it as arduous, adding that his determination to achieve the record comes from his strong desire to make sure that he expresseshimself as a medical doctor and as an artist.
He said it also from his passion for humanity, and the desire to inspire people to go the extra length.
David’s record-breaking journey began on July 16, 2024, at the Onikan stadium in Lagos and culminated with a triumphant closing ceremony on July 21, 2024.
Surpassing the previous record of 629.98 square metres held by Ravi Soni of India on the fourth day of his attempt, David set his sights on achieving 1,000 square metres of artistry.
His determination and commitment led him to surpass the existing record on Friday, with a final achievement of setting a new record of 1,150 square metres on Sunday July 21.
Also speaking at the media presentation, Temitope Ashiwaju, Group Corporate Communication and Events General Manager at Tolaram lauded David for his achievement, noting that his bold endeavour to break the World Record resonated deeply with the company’s values.
“Dr. Fola David not only broke records but also exemplified the spirit of overcoming challenges, which aligns perfectly with our brand. For us, we believe that there’s still more to be given in terms of creativity, in terms of our unity in diversity, and how important it is for us as a nation to come together to actually realise our dreams. All you just have to do is to conceive the idea and believe in yourself and it will be done”, Ashiwaju added.