A Chronicle of Achievements
Over the past few decades, Nigerians have consistently earned recognition from Guinness World Records (GWR) across a wide range of categories, including endurance, entertainment, sports, education, and creative arts. These achievements reflect both individual excellence and collective national ambition, illustrating Nigeria’s diverse talents and cultural pride.
In the area of endurance-based feats, Nigerians have broken multiple records involving long-duration activities. Dancer Kaffy led a team to dance non-stop for over 55 hours, DJ Obi and DJ Yin set records for the longest DJ sets, while Hilda Baci captured global attention in 2023 with her 93-hour cooking marathon. Similarly, Samson Ajao and Bayode Treasures-Olawunmi set reading marathon records, individually and in teams, to promote literacy, while Tunde Onakoya’s 60-hour chess session in Times Square raised awareness about access to education.
Sports and athleticism have produced a significant number of Nigerian records, particularly in Paralympic powerlifting. Names like Yakubu Adesokan, Lucy Ejike, Lauritta Onye, and Paul Kehinde have dominated their respective weight classes. Additionally, track and field athletes like Adeoye Ajibola and Blessing Okagbare have earned records for performance and consistency. Footballer Harrison Chinedu gained recognition for balancing a football while walking and cycling record distances.
In music and pop culture, the late Fela Kuti holds the record for most studio albums released by a solo artist, while his son Femi Kuti broke the record for the longest saxophone note using circular breathing. Artists like Wizkid and Rema have also entered the GWR for streaming achievements. In literature, Bayo Omoboriowo and the Nigerian government created the world’s largest photo book to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day in 2021.
Young Nigerians have made notable contributions in freestyle and stunt-based records, particularly in football juggling and skipping. Chinonso Eche, Vincent Okezie, and Gbenga Ezekiel have all earned records for ball control, acrobatics, and jump rope feats. These records highlight the creativity and athleticism of Nigerian youth and their ability to transform everyday activities into global achievements.
Group efforts have also played a key role in Nigeria’s record history. Examples include the Dafinone family’s collective status as chartered accountants, the largest gathering of children reading aloud with an adult, and the creation of the largest national flag. Fashion designer Liz Sanya also joined the record books for creating the world’s largest sandal in 2025.
Comprehensive List of Nigerian Guinness World Records
Endurance & Marathon Records:
- Kaffy and team – Longest dance party: 55 hrs 40 min (2006)
- Dance relay team – Longest dance marathon relay: 53 hrs 28 min (2019)
- DJ Obi – Longest DJ set: 240 hrs (2016)
- DJ Yin – Longest DJ set: 243 hrs 30 min (2021)
- Hilda Baci – Longest cooking marathon (individual): 93 hrs 11 min (2023)
- Bayode Treasures – Longest read aloud marathon (individual): 120 hrs (2018)
- Readmania team – Longest reading marathon (team): 480 hrs (2021)
- Samson Ajao – Longest reading marathon (individual): 215 hrs (2024)
- Tunde Onakoya – Longest chess marathon: 60 hrs (2024)
Sports & Athletics:
- Adeoye Ajibola – Fastest 100m T46: 10.72s (1992)
- Yakubu Adesokan – Paralympic powerlifting: 180kg (2012)
- Lucy Ejike – Paralympic powerlifting: 142kg (2016)
- Lauritta Onye – Shot put F40: 8.40m (2016)
- Flora Ugwunwa – Javelin F54: 20.25m (2016)
- Folashade Oluwafemiayo – Powerlifting: 152.5kg (2021)
- Paul Kehinde – Powerlifting: 221kg (2018)
- Blessing Okagbare – Most Diamond League appearances: 67 (2010–2018)
- Mfon Udoh – Most goals in a Nigerian league season: 23 (2013–14)
- Stephen Keshi – Youngest to win AFCON as player and coach (1994, 2013)
- Peter Aho – Best T20I bowling figures: 6/5 (2021)
- Harrison Chinedu – Longest distance walked balancing a ball on head: 48.08km (2016)
- Harrison Chinedu – Longest distance cycled with ball on head: 103.6km (2016)
Creative & Cultural Records:
- Dafinone family – Most chartered accountants in one family (1999)
- Adetunwase Adenle – Most children reading aloud with an adult: 4,222 (2011)
- Adetunwase Adenle – Largest painting of a stamp (2016)
- Nigerian flag unveiling – Largest national flag flown: 3,275.6 m² (2021)
- Liz Sanya – Largest sandal: 4.8 m (2025)
- “Discover Nigeria” – Largest photo book: 60.84 m² (2021)
Music & Pop Culture:
- Fela Kuti – Most studio albums by a solo artist: 46 (1969–1992)
- Femi Kuti – Longest saxophone note (circular breathing): 51 min 35 sec (2017)
- Wizkid (with Drake & Kyla) – First song to reach 1 billion Spotify streams: “One Dance” (2016)
- Rema – First artist to top MENA chart: “Calm Down” (2023)
- Modenine – Most Headies awards won: 9 (2004–2015)
Youth, Skipping & Football Freestyle Records:
- Gbenga Ezekiel – Most skips on one leg in 1 min: 278 (2023)
- Gbenga Ezekiel – Most double-unders on one leg in 1 min: 144 (2023)
- Chinonso Eche – Most touches while balancing ball on head in 1 min: 111 (2019)
- Chinonso Eche – Most football headers while lying down: 233 (2021)
- Chinonso Eche – 1,000 touches while balancing a ball in: 7 min 46 sec (2021)
- Chukwuebuka Ezugha & Victor Kipo – Most sole passes (2-person): 198 (2021)
- Ezugha & Kipo – Most head-to-sole passes: 252 (2022)
- Vincent Okezie – 10 backflips holding football between legs (2022)
- Vincent Okezie & team – Most passes (while one balanced on another): 129 (2022)
Other Notable Achievements:
- Haruna Abdulazeez – Most touches of an American football with the feet in 1 min: 75 (2020)
- Tuedon Morgan – Fastest half-marathon on all 7 continents and the North Pole (female): 62 days 12 hrs (2015)
Conclusion
Nigerians have carved out a remarkable presence in the Guinness World Records, with achievements that span a wide range of disciplines. From physical endurance and elite sports to education, youth innovation, and cultural expression, these records showcase the country’s dynamism and global relevance. They also reflect the Nigerian people’s values: perseverance, creativity, and a passion for making a global impact.
While many of these records have since been surpassed or challenged, the trend of Nigerians pushing boundaries continues. More importantly, these achievements serve as an inspiration to new generations and offer a unique form of national pride. As digital access and social media visibility increase, it is likely that Nigeria will continue to be well represented in the Guinness World Records in the years to come.
Here are the links to all the sources referenced for Nigerian Guinness World Records achievements:
- The Nation Online – Full list of Nigerians with Guinness World Records:
https://thenationonlineng.net/full-list-nigerians-who-are-guinness-world-records-holders/ - Leadership.ng – Nigerians Who Have Won Guinness World Records:
https://leadership.ng/nigerians-who-have-won-guinness-world-records/ - Vanguard Nigeria – Nigerians who’ve recently won the Guinness World Record:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/nigerians-whove-recently-won-the-guinness-world-record/ - Fusion.ng – 10 Nigerians You Didn’t Know Were Guinness World Record Holders:
https://blog.fusion.ng/2024/08/28/10-nigerians-you-didnt-know-were-guinness-world-record-holders/ - Punch Nigeria – 10 Nigerians That Attempted World Records in 2023:
https://punchng.com/10-nigerians-that-attempted-world-records-in-2023/
- Guinness World Records – Nigerian students break skipping records (2025):
https://guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/10/nigerian-students-become-stars-of-guinness-world-records-2025-with-incredible-skipping-records - Guinness World Records – Nigerian man’s nine-day read-a-thon smashes world record:
https://guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/8/nigerian-mans-nine-day-read-a-thon-smashes-world-record
- Council on Foreign Relations – Why West Africans are breaking records:
https://www.cfr.org/blog/record-breakers - OkayAfrica – Why West Africans Are Attempting Guinness World Records:
https://www.okayafrica.com/guinness-world-records-west-africans/
- Hilda Baci:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Baci - Tunde Onakoya:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunde_Onakoya - Tuedon Morgan:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuedon_Morgan - Adetunwase Adenle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adetunwase_Adenle - Chukwuebuka Ezugha:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukwuebuka_Ezugha - Fola David (record participant in largest medical illustrations initiative): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fola_David
