A Nigerian woman, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, has embarked on a 144-hour Bible reading marathon in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous public reading of the Holy Bible.
The endurance challenge, tagged “144 Hours in the Word,” began on June 22 at the Novotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and is scheduled to end on July 2 in line with Guinness World Records guidelines.
As of Saturday, Habibat had surpassed the 100-hour milestone, moving closer to completing the ambitious feat.
Videos circulating on social media showed the record attempt in progress, with Habibat reading aloud from the Scriptures while digital timers tracked her progress. Family members, church members and supporters were also seen cheering her on throughout the event.
According to the organisers, the marathon is being conducted in strict compliance with Guinness World Records regulations, which require participants to read continuously aloud while taking only the approved short breaks.
Habibat, a member of The Summit Bible Church in Port Harcourt, said the initiative is more than a record attempt, describing it as a faith-inspired project aimed at encouraging greater devotion to the Word of God.
Her Senior Pastor, Dr. Andy Osakwe of Summit Bible Churches Worldwide, also described the exercise as a spiritual assignment designed to promote the Bible and inspire believers, rather than merely pursuing global recognition.
The attempt has continued to attract attention on social media, with many Nigerians expressing support and encouragement as she nears the finish line.
Habibat’s challenge comes months after Nigerian Samson Ajao earned Guinness World Records recognition in 2024 for the longest marathon reading aloud. The Ibadan-born record holder completed a 215-hour reading marathon, breaking the previous record of 124 hours set by Kyrgyzstan’s Rysbai Isakov in 2022.
Her attempt adds to the growing list of endurance-based Guinness World Record pursuits by Nigerians, following several high-profile marathon challenges in recent years.
