Nigerian Woman Completes 144-hr Guinness World Records For Longest Bible Reading Marathon

A Nigerian woman, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, has completed a 144-hour Guinness World Records (GWR) attempt for the longest marathon reading of the Holy Bible.

According to videos shared by friends and supporters on Instagram, the feat was completed on Monday after six days of continuous Bible reading, in accordance with GWR’s guidelines, which permit only limited breaks for essential needs.

Tagged “144 Hours in the Word,” the attempt, according to her friends, was a faith-driven initiative aimed at encouraging deeper engagement with the Scripture and inspiring believers to strengthen their commitment to Bible study.

They said the journey to the record attempt began in June 2022 after years of preparation marked by consistency, endurance, and devotion.

Habibat, a member of Summit Bible Church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, completed the 144-hour reading on June 29.

The record attempt began on June 22 at the Novotel in Port Harcourt under official GWR’s regulations, which require participants to read aloud continuously while taking only limited breaks.

Senior Pastor, Dr Andy Osakwe of the Summit Bible Churches Worldwide, described the attempt as more than a pursuit of a world record, saying it was a spiritual project designed to exalt God’s Word and inspire believers.

Habibat’s attempt followed GWR’s recognition in 2024 of Nigerian Samson Ajao for the world’s longest marathon reading aloud.

The Ibadan-born reader had set a new record after reading continuously for 215 hours, surpassing the previous mark of 124 hours set by Kyrgyzstan’s Rysbai Isakov in 2022.

Habitat’s performance will now await official verification by Guinness World Records before it can be officially recognised.