It is no doubt that Nigerians are at the forefront when it comes to setting the standard in Africa and that is well exemplified in the number of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record.
On the 11th of May, 2023, a Nigerian chef by the name of Hilda Baci embarked on a journey to break and set a new record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual cook. The record which was set in 2019 and is still held by India’s chief Lata Tondon stands at 87 hours and 45 minutes.
In a bid to break the record, Hilda Baci started a cooking marathon. She dubbed cookathon on the 11th of May which was Thursday and continued until the 15th of May, 2023. Her cooking reportedly had a mixture of 55 recipes and she was believed to have prepared 100 meals to set a new record.
Her 100-hour cooking stint is yet to be confirmed by Guinness. The team leader said they were waiting for more evidence to corroborate her claim.
While we wait on the official confirmation of Hilda’s cookathon, we have compiled a list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record.
Fela Kuti
Record: Highest number of career albums for a solo musician
Fela Anikulapo Kuti born on the 5th October 1938 was a Nigerian Afrobeat legend, bandleader, composer, political activist and a pan-Africanist. He is the brain behind Afrobeat. Fela started the infamous Kalakuta Republic, a commune he declared as self-independent from the then-military rule.
His feat on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is a remarkable 46 albums in a solo music career that spanned 23 years. The first of the 46 albums was recorded in 1969 while the last came in 1992.
Modenine
Record: Most Headies Won
Born Babatunde Olusegun Adewale and known by the stage name of Modenine, the British-born hip hop star has his name on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record after winning nine Headies: Best Rap Album (Malcolm IX – The Lost Sessions, 2006), Best Rap Single (“Cry”, 2007) and seven “Lyricist on the Roll” awards (2006–11 and 2013).
Mfon Udoh
Record: Highest Number of goals by an NPFL player
In the 2013-2014 Nigeria Premier League season, former Super Eagles Striker Mfon Udoh recorded 23 goals for Enyimba to break the record previously held by Jude Aneke who scored 20 goals in the 2010–11 season. He broke the record after joining Enyimba from Akwa United.
Yakubu Adesokan
Record: Highest lift in Paralympics
During the Paralympic Games in London, United Kingdom, Nigerian Paralympian Yakubu Adesokan lifted 180 kg in the men’s -48 kg on 30 August 2012 to set a new record.
Joy Onaolapo
Record: Highest lift in women’s Paralympics
Similarly to Yakubu Adesokan’s record, Nigeria’s Joy Onaolapo has her name on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record after she lifted 131 kg in the women’s -52kg division. Her feat gave her the gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, United Kingdom.
Tuedon Morgan
Record: Fastest Time to run a marathon
On the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Tuedon Morgan. The Nigerian set the record for the fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole in the female category. She completed the marathon in 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015.
Flora Ugunwa
Record: Farthest Javelin Throw by a female
Nigeria’s Flora Ugunwa is the record holder for the farthest javelin throw in the female category. In the female F54 javelin throw, she threw 20.25 metres on 13 September 2016 to set the record.
Lauritta Onye
Record: Farthest Shot Put by a female
Similar to that of Flora on the Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Lauritta Onye’s record in the female F40 shot put. The Nigerian Paralympian threw 8.40 m at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016 to set the record.
Wizkid
Record: One Billion Streams on Spotify
Born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16th July 1990, Wizkid is a Nigerian musician and songwriter. He is arguably one of the most prominent voices in the modern-day Afrobeat genre.
His song “One Dance” with Canadian Star Drake also featuring Kyla on 16 December 2016 became the first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify.
Blessing Okagbare
Record: Most appearances in Diamond League
Female Nigerian athlete Blessing Okagbare holds the record for the most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete. She has 67 appearances in the 100 metres, 200 metres and long jump. She achieved these between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.
Bayo Omoboriowo
Record: The largest photo book
The record for the largest photo book which is 60.84 m² (654 ft² 87 in²) is held by Nigerian Bayo Omoboriowo. He set this record in September 2021.
Peter Aho
Record: Six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs
Another Nigerian on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Peter Aho. He recorded six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone. Peter achieved this in October 2021.
Haruna Abdulazeez
Record: Most football touches in a minute
The holder of the record for the most American football touches with the feet in one minute is Haruna Abdulazeez. He achieved this feat in October 2020.
Vincent Okezie
Record: The most consecutive backward handsprings (football).
Nigeria’s Vincent Okezie holds the record for the most consecutive backward handsprings with a football (soccer ball) between the legs. This record was set in March 2022.
Chinonso Eche
Record: The most football headers in a prone position in one minute.
A similar feat to that of Vincent Okezie on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Chinonso Eche’s most football headers in a prone position in one minute. The Nigerian achieved this feat in October 2021.
Folashade Oluwafemiayo
Record: The heaviest power lifts by a female
Folashade Oluwafemiayo is the record holder for the heaviest power lifts by a female in the -86 kg category with 152.5 kg. She achieved this in December 2021.
Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo
Record: The most consecutive football passes with the soles (team of two).
Nigerian duo of Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Richard Kipo hold the world record for the most consecutive football passes with the soles by a team of two. They achieved this in December 2021.
Bose Omolayo
Record: The heaviest para power lift by a female
Nigerians are good when it comes to powerlifting and Nigeria’s Bose Omollayo holds the record for the heaviest power lift by a female in the -79 kg category with 144 kg.
Divine Ikubor aka Rema
Record: First No 1 Hit on the Official MENA Chart
Music and Nigerian musician have also been doing big things and on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Rema’s song ‘Calm Down’. It is the first No.1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart, the world’s first regional streaming chart.
Gbenga Ezekiel
Record: Most skips in a minute on one leg
Lastly on the list of Nigerians on the Guinness World Record is Gbenga Ezekiel. He holds the record for the most skips in a minute on one leg. This was achieved in February 2023.
Nigerians have done remarkably and are doing remarkable things as far as the Guinness World Records are concerned. While there may be other recipients of this prestigious award, the names we have above are some of the most noticeable.