GT BANK MAN ATTEMPTS GLOBAL RECORD

LONGEST MARATHON READ ALOUD, GTBANK'S YOU READ INITIATIVE BACKS A NIGERIAN TO BREAK GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

BY NSIKAN IKPE,[LAGOS,NIGERIA]

As part of her initiative to rekindle the interest in reading, You read Initiative one of CSR programmes of GTBank launched in 2017 has given her support to a 40-year old Nigerian, Olubayode Treasures Olawunmi who is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Read Aloud from various schools in the environ.

Since 2008, Deepak Sharma Bajaan has held the world record in book reading after he read a total of 17 books in 113 hours and 15 minutes.

Now, Olubayode is taking a shot at breaking the world record by reading over 15 Nigerian published books in 120 hours over a period of 6 days at the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba.

Hail from Ogun state, Olubayode Tresures Olawunmi started the challenge on Monday 26^th February, 2018 at exactly 1;30pm Nigerian time. So far, he has read nine books including Toni Kan’s the Carnivorous City, Sarah Ladipo Manyika’s Independence, Leye Adenle’s Easy Motion Tourist, Elnathan John’s Born on a Tuesday amongst many others.

Today (1^st March) is the 3^rd day of his marathon attempt and he has done over 72hours of reading.

The father of 3, Olawunmi, students from various schools in the environs and 250 readers were highly celebrated by GTBank at the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba recently refurbished by the bank.

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The Bank is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.

The Nigerian reader, Olubayode Treasures-Olawumi who is attempting to surpass the Guiness World Record for the longest individual read-aloud session in world history, is now into the third day of the scheduled 5-day challenge.
When our correspondent called at the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba venue of the challenge Wednesday afternoon, Bayode, who commenced the challenge on Monday, had already read some seven books.
Principally made up of works of fiction by Nigerian authors, the books include Toni Kan’s The Carnivorous City as well as novels by Sarah Ladipo Makinwa and Elnathan John.
The current record for the longest marathon reading (aloud) session was set by Deepak Sharma Bajagain of Nepal at the Tudikhel Ground, Kathmandu, Nepal.
That challenge ran from 19 to 24 September 2008 and Bajagain read aloud a total of 17 different books from 13 authors to set the record.
Commentator’s say that Bayode’s record-breaking effort is already contributing to raising renewed awareness about the need to take critical steps on the path of seriously boosting the reading culture in Nigeria.