Dr. Nsikak Akpan, the Provost of Foreign Links Campus in Moro, Osun State, has announced his plan to set a new world record for the longest marathon lecture. In a statement released on Sunday, Dr. Akpan revealed that he has received permission from Guinness World Records to attempt a 150-hour-long marathon lecture, starting from September 23, 2024.
Dr. Akpan aims to surpass the current record of 139 hours, held by Arvind Mishra since 2014. As a public health expert and passionate educator, Dr. Akpan plans to lecture on “The Relationship between Environment and Health” at the college campus. He expressed his motivation to take on this challenge not just for the title but to highlight the importance of academics.
Dr. Akpan stated, “I’m a naturally born teacher who loves teaching a lot. Teaching for me is a hobby. So, that ignited my spirit to undertake the challenge of the marathon lecture. Recently, people have been attempting Guinness World Records in many areas but very little has been done towards academics, no wonder Arvind Mishra has been able to hold on to the title for over a decade since March 16, 2014.”
He added, “So, I felt it is only right for me to take up the challenge not just for the sake of the title but for the sake of academics, which is my constituency. I’m aware that an Indian professor, Arvind Mishra, lectured for 139 hours, but to break the record, I need to go beyond that.”
Guinness World Records has approved 150 hours for Dr. Akpan’s lecture, which will cover both day and night sessions. The format will follow a typical classroom lecture, involving student-teacher interactions. According to Guinness World Records guidelines, Dr. Akpan will receive a 5-minute break for every hour of lecturing. While the students will participate throughout the period, no single set of students will be required to attend for the full 150 hours; each set can spend a maximum of four hours.
Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Dr. Akpan noted, “I know the task is enormous and demanding, but I’m not alone in it. I have a team, and we are working tirelessly to prepare for it. But we also need support and assistance from members of the public. We need support to take care of the welfare and other areas of the students.”
Dr. Akpan emphasized that the attempt is not solely about achieving a record. “The Guinness World Records is not about the title or immediate benefit for me. I look beyond the title to what people can benefit from. At the end of this programme, people will be conscious of what goes on in their environment.”
The 150-hour marathon lecture will be a significant event, aiming to inspire and educate while also setting a new standard in academic endurance.
