Renowned chess master Tunde Onakoya has joined the ranks of Nigerians achieving Guinness World Records.
At 29 years old, Onakoya shattered the previous record for the longest chess marathon in New York’s Times Square, reaching an impressive 57-hour milestone, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes.
Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad held the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes, set in 2018.
Nigerian gourmet chef Hilda Baci entered the Guinness World Records for the longest cooking hours by an individual last year.
The Guinness Book of Records is a renowned reference book documenting human and natural world records. Originally published in 1955 by the Guinness Brewery in Ireland, it has evolved into one of the world’s most esteemed and widely read reference books.
Individuals or groups seeking to establish Guinness World Records must provide evidence to the Guinness World Records team and undergo a verification process to qualify for a world record listing.
Here is a brief overview of some Nigerians who have broken Guinness World Records in recent times:
1. Hilda Baci – May 2023
Hilda Effiong Bassey, widely recognized as Hilda Baci, achieved the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. On May 15, 2023, she brought honor to Nigeria during the cook-a-thon held in Lagos, which was slated to last for 93 hours and eleven minutes.
2. Singer Divine Ikubor better known as Rema in May 2023.
Nigerian music sensation Divine Ikubor, famously known as Rema, secured a place in the Guinness World Records. His hit track, ‘Calm Down,’ etched its name in history as the inaugural No. 1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart, marking the world’s premiere regional streaming chart.
3. Gbenga Ezekiel in October 2022
Ezekiel accomplished the remarkable feat of achieving the most skips in one minute on one leg, tallying an impressive 278 skips and surpassing his previous record of 265. Additionally, he set a new record for the most double under skips in one minute on one leg, achieving 144 skips and exceeding the previous record of 132, established by India’s Himanshu Prajapati in 2021.
4. Folashade Oluwafemiayo in August 2022
In 2021, Folashade Oluwafemiayo claimed the gold medal in her category at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. During this competition, she also established a new world record by lifting 152.5 kg. Continuing her success, she participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and secured yet another gold medal in the heavyweight event.
5. Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo in March 2022
The record for the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles by a team of two is 252, accomplished by Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo, both from Nigeria. They achieved this feat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on March 11, 2022.
6. Vincent Okezie in March 2022
On March 3, 2023, Vincent Okezie achieved his fifth Guinness World Record (GWR) by becoming the current holder of the most football (soccer) ‘around the world’ tricks, totaling 71, with arms linked.
7. Bose Omolayo in December 2021
Bose Omolayo achieved the Guinness World Record in 2021 for the heaviest para power lift by a female in the -79 kg category, lifting an impressive 144 kg.
8. Chinonso Miracle Eche in October 2021
Chinonso Miracle Eze accomplished the fastest time to reach 1,000 touches while balancing another ball on his head, breaking the Guinness World Record for “Most Consecutive Football Touches In One Minute While Balancing a Ball On His Head.”
9. Peter Aho in October 2021
Peter Aho made history as one of the bowlers from Nigeria to break the Guinness World Record by achieving a remarkable feat of taking five wickets and a hat-trick in a T20i game. Additionally, he holds the record for the best bowling figures in T20is, claiming six wickets for five runs against Sierra Leone in 2021.
10. Bayo Omoboriowo achieved the remarkable feat of breaking the Guinness World Record for creating The Largest Photo Book in 2021. Collaborating with The JT Agency and with the support of the federal government, the photo book spans an impressive 60.84 square meters (654 square feet and 87 square inches) and serves as a recreation of a photo collection titled “Discover Nigeria.”
11. Tunde Onakoye in April 2024
Tunde Onakoya has recently made headlines as the latest Nigerian to break the Guinness World Record. He achieved this feat through an unprecedented and uninterrupted 58-hour chess session, reaching the remarkable milestone of 57 hours.
Tunde Onakoya raises over N131 million in his Guinness World Record for longest chess marathon