Nigerian woman attempting 144-hour Bible reading Guinness World Record

A Port Harcourt woman, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, is closing in on a Guinness World Record after reading the Bible aloud continuously for over 100 hours, in a faith-driven endurance feat that has captivated churchgoers and social media users across Nigeria.

Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack began her attempt on June 22 at the Novotel hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, setting her sights on 144 unbroken hours in the Word before the challenge closes on July 2. The Summit Bible Church member has already crossed the 100-hour threshold, entering what organisers describe as the final and most punishing stretch of the marathon.

Under Guinness World Records rules guiding the attempt, Habibat must read aloud continuously, with only brief, tightly monitored breaks permitted for essential needs. Footage circulating online shows her stationed at a lectern and desk, flanked by digital timers counting down her progress as cheering supporters keep vigil around her.

For Habibat, the record bid is more than a chase for global recognition. She has framed “144 Hours in the Word” as a spiritual assignment, one meant to deepen believers’ engagement with scripture. Her senior pastor, Dr Andy Osakwe of Summit Bible Churches Worldwide, has thrown his full weight behind the effort, describing it not merely as a record attempt but as a project to exalt God’s Word and stir the faith of Christians watching from near and far.

Family, friends and church members have rallied around the marathon, turning the Novotel venue into something of a pilgrimage site as well-wishers stream in to cheer her toward the finish line.

The Presidency has dismissed the political strength of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that President Bola Tinubu is no longer under any threat from the former Labour Party presidential candidate. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, made the remarks during an appearance on the *Mic On Podcast*, where he defended the Tinubu administration against criticisms from the opposition. According to Dare, while Obi may have posed a significant political challenge in the past, the current administration believes its achievements have strengthened President Tinubu’s position ahead of future elections. He also rejected calls by Obi for President Tinubu to resign, arguing that such demands have no constitutional basis. “The government is not afraid of Peter Obi. Just as he has the right to ask President Tinubu to resign, the government also has the right to tell him that the President will not resign because there is no basis for such a demand,” Dare said. He stressed that Nigeria operates a constitutional presidential system with elections held every four years, adding that the proper avenue for seeking political change is through the ballot box. Dare maintained that the administration has made measurable progress in addressing the country's challenges, insisting that its performance has earned it public confidence. According to him, the government has successfully confronted critical national issues and remains focused on delivering its mandate rather than being distracted by opposition rhetoric. The presidential aide further claimed that Obi no longer represents the political force he once did, stating that the President now stands on a stronger political footing because of his administration’s record. He concluded by expressing confidence that Obi would be unable to repeat his 2023 electoral success over Tinubu in Lagos State. “Peter Obi was a threat before, but today he is no longer a threat because we stand on the solid ground of performance. We have been able to interrogate the problems of this country. Peter Obi will not defeat President Tinubu in Lagos again,” Dare declared.

Habibat’s attempt arrives on the heels of a landmark feat by fellow Nigerian Samson Ajao, who in 2024 earned global recognition from Guinness World Records for the longest marathon reading aloud in history. The 27-year-old Ibadan native read non-stop for 215 hours, nearly nine days, smashing the previous record of 124 hours held by Kyrgyzstan’s Rysbai Isakov since 2022.

Her bid also feeds into a broader wave of Nigerians chasing Guinness glory, a trend that gained fresh momentum after Hilda Baci’s celebrated cook-a-thon thrust the country into the global spotlight for marathon endurance feats. As Habibat presses on toward the 144-hour mark, Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora are watching closely, hopeful that another record could soon bear the country’s name.

Contributor

Tags: Guinness World Record Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack