Ekiti chief Sanya Atofarati has completed his 120-hour challenge in his quest to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest marathon watching television.
The community leader began the marathon television watching challenge on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 and ended it on Monday, January 1, 2024 in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
Alejandro Fragoso, a web developer based in New York, set the existing record of 94 hours in 2016.
Atofarati expressed hope that he would be certified by GWR after verification of his evidence.
In a chat with reporters in Ado Ekiti on Monday, he said: “We are optimistic of being recognised as the new record holder because all the prescriptions outlined in our personal guidelines were meticulously and diligently followed.
“All our evidence requirements are ready because they were treated to real-time. It will be reviewed and submitted to GWR with the next 72 hours.”
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Atofarati said he would be celebrating the effort with 100 widows in Ilawe Ekiti on Tuesday.
“Watching TV for 120 hours has strengthened my knowledge base because I am better informed about the world and happenings around me which I believe will further enhance my capacity to deliver,” he said.
“I am of the belief that the exercise has further added value to tourism benefits in Nigeria. I thank Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Senator Biodun Olujimi; and the director-general, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, for the encouragement and support.
“I also appreciate the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi; former Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State, Segun Adewumi; Ekiti State former commissioner for works, Funmi Ogun; Lanre Fajuyi; the host community under Elder Sunday Agunbiade; and a host of others too numerous to mention and my wife, Mrs Orobosa Atofarati.”
