By Damiete Braide
In 2024, 27-year-old Samson Ajao from Osogbo, Nigeria, achieved a historic milestone by setting the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud.
His remarkable feat lasted 215 hours, just an hour shy of nine full days shattering the previous record of 124 hours set in 2022 by Rysbai Isakov of Kyrgyzstan.
With this, Ajao not only engraved his name in history but also sought to ignite a passion for reading in Nigeria and beyond.
For Ajao, reading was more than just a pastime; it was a tool for transformation. He believed that literacy played a crucial role in societal progress, and he wanted to encourage more people, especially Africans, to cultivate the habit of reading.
“Education is the tool for personal and societal growth,” he asserted. “I wanted to inspire others to imbibe a reading culture and to realize that there are no limits to human potential,” he told Daily Sun.
Ajao saw the Guinness World Record as the perfect platform to make a global statement about the power of books. He meticulously planned his record attempt, selecting approximately 100 books covering finance, sales, management, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness. These topics, he believed, held the key to personal and societal development critical in Africa’s ongoing quest for progress.
Setting a world record was no easy task. Guinness World Records had strict guidelines: the reader had to read aloud continuously from published works, with no more than a 30-second pause between items. As per the marathon rules, Ajao was granted five minutes of rest for every hour he read, accumulating to two hours of rest per day. These brief breaks were the only moments he could eat, sleep, bathe, or use the restroom.
To prepare, Ajao trained his body and mind rigorously. Reading was his passion, but endurance was a different challenge. He spent months conditioning himself, gradually increasing his reading hours. He also sought medical assessments to ensure his body could withstand the physical and mental strain. “The mind controls the body,” he explained. “Since reading books is my hobby, I trained myself to read for lengthy hours, knowing that I could do it.”
Despite his preparation, the reading marathon pushed Ajao to his limits. The long hours without proper sleep took a toll on his body. At times, exhaustion blurred his vision to the point where he feared he was losing his sight. “There was a particular moment when I thought I had gone blind because I couldn’t see the words in the book,” he recalled. “But when I looked up and saw the audience clearly, I knew I was just extremely tired.” Thinking quickly, he switched to a book with larger font sizes and pressed on.
Pain and fatigue were his constant companions. He couldn’t take pain relief medication, as it might cause drowsiness. His muscles ached, his throat grew sore from continuous reading, and his mind battled waves of sleep deprivation. But through it all, he held onto his goal.
Ajao drew strength from the overwhelming support he received from across Nigeria and beyond. His team, family, friends, and a crowd of supporters cheered him on, fueling his determination. “When the going got tough, I remembered the people who believed in me,” he said, adding, “People crossed borders to support me. I couldn’t let them down.”
When Ajao finally crossed the 215-hour mark, he had done more than just break a record, he had sparked a movement. His accomplishment highlighted the importance of literacy and its role in national development. He hoped his feat would challenge the stereotype that Africans do not engage in reading and intellectual pursuits.
“My achievement has put Nigeria on the global stage once again,” he said proudly. “It’s not just a personal milestone but proof that Nigerians can excel on the world stage. It reshapes the narrative about Africa and inspires young people to dream big and believe in their ability to make a global impact.”
Beyond the world record, Ajao sees his success as an inspiration for others to invest in themselves. “I want young people to think outside the box, put their imagination into action, and strengthen literacy development in their communities,” he said. He believes that reading is a gateway to self-improvement, problem-solving, and nation-building.
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude for the experience and the impact he had made. “I see it as a cause to change the world,” he concluded. “If I can dream it and achieve it, then so can others.”