Dr. Nsikak Akpan, a lecturer at Foreign Links College of Health Sciences in Moro, Osun State, achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new world record for the longest marathon lecture on Sunday.
Before the event, Dr. Akpan announced to journalists that his application—reference number: 240427100506lml—to the Guinness World Records had been approved, allowing him to embark on a 150-hour lecture marathon.
He broke the previous record around 4:30 AM on Sunday, surpassing Prof. Arvin Mishra of India, whose record of 139 hours, 52 minutes, and 42 seconds was set in 2014. Dr. Akpan successfully met his target of 150 hours by approximately 2:30 PM, igniting jubilant celebrations among his audience, primarily composed of students and journalists.
In an interview following his achievement, a visibly exhausted Dr. Akpan, who had faced a medical emergency on Friday and received treatment before resuming the challenge, stated, “It took us two to three months to plan this. When the incident happened, I didn’t consider quitting. I was prepared and continued without dwelling on the situation. Once I was cleared to resume, I returned.”
When asked about the challenges he encountered during this marathon, Dr. Akpan noted, “Some people doubted our ability to achieve this due to financial concerns. However, we proved them wrong and accomplished our goal without external support. Challenges will always arise, but for anyone aiming for success, it’s essential to keep moving forward without letting obstacles deter you.”
