Samson Ajao, 27, from Osogbo, Nigeria, broke the world record for the Longest Marathon Reading Aloud. He read for an incredible 215 hours, just one hour shy of nine full days. This surpassed the previous record of 126 hours set by Yatish Chandra Shukla of India in 2019.

Reading for 215 Hours

Samson read from published works with only 30-second pauses between books. He covered around 100 books during his marathon. These included topics like finance, leadership, politics, health, and mental wellness. His goal was to encourage reading and promote literacy in Nigeria.

Support from Public Figures

Samson had support from prominent figures, including Osun State House Speaker Ngozi Adeleke and Education Commissioner Dipo Eluwole. He took five-minute breaks every hour, as per marathon reading rules, which added up to two hours of rest per day. During these breaks, he ate, used the bathroom, but chose not to sleep.

Preparation and Health

Before attempting the record, Samson consulted medical experts to protect his voice and reduce the need for frequent breaks. After completing his challenge, he celebrated with a street parade joined by his proud parents and supporters.

A Rich Record-Breaking History

Marathon reading records date back to 1987 when Adrian Hilton from England read Shakespeare for 110 hours. Other record holders include Deepak Sharma from Nepal and Yatish Chandra Shukla from India. Yatish has broken the record four times, but Samson’s achievement now stands as the longest marathon reading aloud.

Keywords:

• Longest marathon reading aloud
• World record reading duration
• Samson Ajao record
• Continuous reading record
• Literacy promotion through reading
• Reading challenge achievement
• Marathon reading history
• Yatish Chandra Shukla Records
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