Nigerians Who Have Recently Won Guinness World Records

The Guinness World Record is simply a British reference book published annually that lists records of human achievements from around the world.

This book also publishes the extremes of the natural world. Over the years, lots of Nigerians have made it to the Guinness Book of World Records

Around the world, there are people including Nigerians that have broken and set world records.

This gave birth to the idea of the “Guinness Book of Records” in 1955 and since then till now, records are being broken every year and these amazing achievements are documented all over the continent.

Anyone, regardless of age, gender and race, can aspire to make the list of Guinness World Records holders for anything, as long as they are willing to give it all it takes.

Popular chess master, Tunde Onakoya, has joined the league of Nigerians who recently won the Guinness World Record.

The 29-year-old Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in New York’s Times Square, when he reached the 57-hour mark, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes.

The previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, was held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.

Nigerian gourmet chef, Hilda Baci entered the Guinness World Record for longest cooking hours by an individual lat year.

Individuals or groups must submit proof to the Guinness World Records team and go through a verification process to qualify for a world record listing.

Below are a brief information about a list of Nigerians who have recently broken the Guinness World Records:

1.      Tunde Onakoye in April 2024

Tunde Onakoya is the latest Nigerian to break the Guinness World Record after an unprecedented and uninterrupted 58-hour chess session, and reaching the 57-hour mark.

2. Hilda Baci in May 2023

Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, entered the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Hilda Baci made Nigerians proud on May 15, 2023, in the cook-a-thon held in Lagos, which was set to last for 93 hours and eleven minutes.

3. Divine Ikubor (Rema) in May 2023

Nigerian music star, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, made it to the Guinness World Book of Records. Rema’s hit song, ‘Calm Down’ made history as the first No. 1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart (the world’s first regional streaming chart).

4. Gbenga Ezekiel in October 2022

Ezekiel achieved the most skips in one minute on one leg (278), breaking his own record of 265, and the most double under skips in one minute on one leg (144), beating the previous record of 132, set by India’s Himanshu Prajapati in 2021.

5. Folashade Oluwafemiayo in August 2022

In 2021, Folashade Oluwafemiayo won the gold medal in her event at the 2021 World Para Powerlifting Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. At this event, she also set a new world record of 152.5 kg. She competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal in the heavyweight event.

6. Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo in March 2022

The most consecutive football (soccer) passes with the soles (team of two) is 198, achieved by Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo (both Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 18 December 2021.

They also hold the record for the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles (team of two) which is 252, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.

Vincent Okezie joined them to achieve the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person which is 129, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.

7. Vincent Okezie in March 2022

Vincent Okezie, on 3 March 2023, Master Okezie won his fifth GWR to become the current holder of the most football (soccer) ‘around the world’ tricks (71) with arms linked.

In addition, below are 42 Nigerians who are Guinness World Record holders in the past years:

1.      PAUL KEHINDE

The heaviest para powerlift by a male in the -65 kg category is 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), achieved by Paul Kehinde (Nigeria) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 19 February 2018. Kehinde broke his own world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.

2.      STEPHEN KESHI

The youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach is Stephen Keshi (b. 31 January 1961, Nigeria) who was 52 years and 10 days old when he won the tournament as head coach of Nigeria at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 February 2013.

Keshi was captain of the national team when he won the tournament as a player in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. As a manager Keshi lead his team to glory after a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final.

3.      CHINONSO ECHE

The most football (soccer ball) headers in a prone position in one minute is 233 and was achieved by Chinonso Eche (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021.

Eche also holds the record for the fastest time to 1000 football (soccer ball) touches while balancing a ball on the head in 7 min 46 sec in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021.

He equally earned the record of the most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head which is 111 in Warri, Nigeria, on 14 November 2019.

4.      BOSE OMOLAYO 

The heaviest Para powerlift by a female in the -79 kg category is 144 kg (317 lb 7 oz), achieved by Bose Omolayo (Nigeria) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 December 2021.

5.      PETER AHO 

Peter Aho became one of the bowlers from Nigeria to break the Guinness World Record after taking five wickets and a hat-trick in a T20i game and also holds the record for best bowling figures in T20is, claiming six wickets for five runs against Sierra Leone in 2021.

6.      BAYO OMOBORIOWO 

Bayo Omoboriowo broke the Guinness World Record for creating The Largest Photo Book in 2021. The photo book, done in collaboration with The JT Agency and with the federal government’s support, is 60.84 square metres (654 square feet and 87 square inches) and was a recreation of a photo collection titled Discover Nigeria.

7.      HARUNA ABDULAZEEZ

The most American football touches with the feet in one minute (male) is 75 and was achieved by Haruna Abdulazeez (Nigeria) in Kano, Nigeria, on 1 October 2020.

8.      PETER AHO

Nigeria’s Peter Aho took six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone in a match staged at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval in Nigeria on 24 October 2021. This included a hat-trick with the last ball of the second over and the first two balls of the fourth as the visitors subsided to 70 all out, chasing 91 for victory.

9.      MFON UDOH

Mfon Udoh (Nigeria) scored 23 goals for Enyimba in the Nigerian Premier League in 2013–14, breaking the previous best of 20 set by Jude Aneke (Nigeria) in 2010–11. It was Udoh’s first season for Enyimba, having transferred from Akwa United FC.

10.  DAVID OMUEYA DAFINONE

Three sons and two daughters of Senator David Omueya and Cynthia Esella Dafinone of Lagos, Nigeria, all qualified as members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales between 1986 and 1999. Their father had also become a member of the same institution in 1963. Igho Omueya Dafinone, Ede Omueya Dafinone and Duvie Omueya Dafinone are currently working within the firm of D O Dafinone Co. Chartered Accontants in Lagos. Daphne Omueya Dafinone and Joy Ufuoma Dafinone live in London.

11.  MODENINE

The Headies (formerly the Hip Hop World Awards), were inaugurated by Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006 to honour outstanding achievement in Nigerian music. British-born rapper Modenine (aka Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, Nigeria) has, appropriately enough, won 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).

12.  FELA KUTI

Fela Kuti recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of a solo career spanning 23 years. The first solo album was recorded in 1969 and the last in 1992.

13.  VINCENT OKEZIE

The most consecutive backwards handsprings with a football (soccer ball) between the legs is 10, achieved by Vincent Okezie (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.

He also joined Chukwuebuka Ezugha, Victor Richard Kipo to achieve the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person which is 129, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.

14.  BLESSING OKAGBARE

The most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete is 67, achieved by Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) in the 100 metres, 200 metres and long jump disciplines between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.

15.  LAURITTA ONYE

The farthest shot put by a female F40 athlete is 8.40 m, achieved by Lauritta Onye (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.

16.  LUCY EJIKE

The heaviest powerlift for a -61 kg female athlete is 142 kg, achieved by Lucy Ejike (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.

Her lift of 127.5 kg in the women’s -44 kg division has also stood since 20 September 2004, when she won gold at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

17.  FOLASHADE OLUWAFEMIAYO

The heaviest powerlift by a female in the -86 kg category is 152.5 kg (336 lb 3 oz), achieved by Folashade Oluwafemiayo (Nigeria) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 3 December 2021.

She had to settle for a silver medal in the women’s -75 kg class at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 3 September 2012, but earlier that same day she completed a record lift of 148 kg.

18.  TUEDON MORGAN

The fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole (female) is 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec, and was achieved by Tuedon Morgan (Nigeria), from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015.

Embarked on an extraordinary marathon journey that spanned multiple continents and even reached the North Pole. From February 8, 2015, to April 12, 2015, she accomplished the fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole. Completing this incredible feat in a record-breaking time of 62 days, 12 hours, 58 minutes, and 49 seconds, Tuedon Morgan demonstrated unparalleled endurance, resilience, and a spirit of adventure.

19. JOSHUA JASON USORO

Dancer, Joshua Usoro, popularly called Jason, was officially recognised and certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2020 as the longest dance marathon by relay, beating the previous record held by dance queen, Kaffy.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, Jason said that his new record, 53hrs, 28mins, 47secs would not have been possible if not for the combined efforts of his team.

Especially the fact that I failed at my first attempt in 2017. Coming back to break it is an unexplainable feeling.

18-35. NELSON IKUKPU, CHRISTOPHER, ESIRI DAVID, KADA SHAMMAH, OTUM JOSHUA, NELSON STEVEN, ALICE, PAUL SNEH, JANET JIYA, CHIZZY, ABAYOMI OYEBANJI, TRUST, MODESOLA, KIVYSTON, AMOS, SHAZAM

The longest dance marathon relay is 53 hr 28 min 47 sec, and was achieved by Team Jason Joshua Usoro (all Nigeria) in Lagos, Nigeria, on 6 April 2019.

36. TOBI AMUSAN 

Tobi Amusan ran a time of 12.12 seconds to defeat former world record holder, Kendra Harrison, who had set the world record in the 100 meters hurdles with a time of 12.20 seconds in 2016, at the London Müller Anniversary Games.

37. FLORA UGWUNWA

The farthest female F54 javelin throw is 20.25 metres, achieved by Flora Ugwunwa (Nigeria) on 13 September 2016.

Showcased her exceptional skill in the javelin throw event. On September 13, 2016, she achieved a remarkable feat by recording the farthest female F54 javelin throw. With a powerful throw, Flora reached an impressive distance of 20.25 meters. This outstanding accomplishment at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlighted her precision, technique, and strength in the field of javelin throwing.

38. WIZKID

The first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify is “One Dance” by Drake (Canada) featuring musicians Wizkid and Kyla, as of 16 December 2016.

39. YAKUBU ADESOKAN

Nigeria’s Yakubu Adesokan lifted 180 kg in the men’s -48 kg powerlifting competition at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 30 August 2012.

40. JOY ONAOLAPO

Nigeria’s Joy Onaolapo won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 1 September 2012 when she produced a lift of 131 kg in the women’s -52 kg division.

41. KAFFY 

Kaffy, also known as Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, is a renowned Nigerian dancer, choreographer, dance instructor, and fitness coach. In 2006, she achieved a remarkable feat by breaking the Guinness World Record for the “Longest Dance Party” at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon.

42. ADEOYE AJIBOLA

Adeoye Ajibola (Nigeria) ran the men’s 100 metres in 10.72 seconds at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, on 6 September 1992. Ajibola competes in the T46 classification, for athletes with an impairment that affects their arms or legs, including amputees.