A Nigerian woman, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, has completed an extraordinary 144-hour Bible reading marathon in an ambitious bid to secure a place in the Guinness World Records, with her attempt now awaiting official verification.
Ihiovi-Jack brought the six-day endurance challenge to a successful close on June 29, after reading the Holy Bible aloud almost continuously in strict compliance with Guinness World Records guidelines, which permit only limited breaks for essential needs.
The marathon, themed “144 Hours in the Word,” commenced on June 22 at the Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, drawing support from family, friends, church members and well-wishers who cheered her on throughout the remarkable feat.
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Videos shared on social media captured the determined reader standing at a lectern, reading scripture hour after hour while a digital timer tracked the elapsed time, highlighting both the physical endurance and spiritual commitment required for the challenge.
According to the organisers, the initiative was conceived in June 2022 and took several years of planning, preparation and coordination before the official record attempt was launched.
Beyond the quest for global recognition, organisers said the project was designed to inspire Christians and the wider public to cultivate a deeper, more consistent habit of reading the Bible.
Her church, Summit Bible Church in Port Harcourt, played a central role in supporting the marathon. Senior Pastor Andy Osakwe of Summit Bible Churches Worldwide described the exercise as a spiritual campaign aimed at encouraging engagement with God’s Word, stressing that its impact extends far beyond the pursuit of a world record.
Ihiovi-Jack’s attempt comes amid a growing wave of Guinness World Records pursuits by Nigerians, particularly endurance-based challenges that have captured national and international attention in recent years.
In 2024, Nigerian reader Samson Ajao earned Guinness World Records recognition for the longest marathon reading aloud after reading continuously for 215 hours, eclipsing the previous 124-hour record set in 2022 by Rysbai Isakov. Unlike Ajao’s achievement, however, Ihiovi-Jack’s challenge focused exclusively on the continuous public reading of the Holy Bible under Guinness World Records regulations.
Guinness World Records will now examine the evidence submitted for the attempt, including video recordings, witness statements and official timing documents, to determine whether every requirement for the category has been fully satisfied.
If the attempt is ratified, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack will officially become the Guinness World Records holder for the category under which her Bible reading marathon was submitted, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s growing list of global record achievements.
