Nigeria’s School of Eloquence sets 480-hour speaking endurance benchmark

…Awaits guinness confirmation

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

Nigeria has achieved a major milestone in public speaking and communication excellence as the  Lagos School of Eloquence completed a 480-hour (20-day) continuous public speaking relay, setting what is being regarded as a new global benchmark.

The marathon, themed “20 Days of Eloquence – Nigeria Speaks to the World,” ended at exactly 3:35 p.m. on April 21, 2026, with the Dean of the institution, Ubong Essien, leading the final countdown to conclude the historic exercise, awaits official confirmation by Guinness World Records.

The 480-hour feat significantly surpassed the previous record of 127 hours, 31 minutes and 43 seconds set in 2018 in New Zealand, positioning Nigeria at the forefront of global speaking endurance initiatives.

Organisers confirmed that all required documentation and evidence have been submitted to Guinness World Records, marking the beginning of the official verification process.

During a virtual session held after the event, adjudicator Lena Kuhlmann stated that the attempt would undergo a thorough review in line with global standards, with a formal decision expected in the coming days.

Also speaking, Jaime Nolan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Speakers Association, described the marathon as a remarkable demonstration of discipline and collaboration, noting that it expands the boundaries of the speaking profession worldwide.

The closing ceremony drew participation from government officials, institutional leaders and stakeholders in communication and leadership development.

Among them were Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, Special Adviser on Blue Economy to the Lagos State Government, and Christiana Salwang, Lagos State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps.

Also in attendance were alumni of the institution, including Patience Essien, alongside members of the Learning and Development Network International such as Victor Diali and Sandra Iheanacho, as well as corps members who actively participated in the relay.

Speaking at the event, Oluwadamilola described the initiative as a national milestone that goes beyond record-setting, noting that it reflects a structured effort to strengthen communication, civic engagement and leadership capacity in Nigeria.

Organisers said the project was conceived to mark the institution’s 20th anniversary, using a symbolic 20-day relay of voices to amplify dialogue and knowledge sharing across sectors.

According to Essien, the initiative was designed to promote structured communication and equip Nigerians from young people to policymakers with essential public speaking skills.

Over the course of the 20-day marathon, speakers from diverse professional and social backgrounds participated, creating what observers described as a nationwide movement focused on expression, engagement and knowledge exchange.

With the successful completion of the exercise, expectations remain high that the achievement will receive official recognition following the Guinness World Records verification process.

If confirmed, the record will firmly place Nigeria on the global map for public speaking endurance and mark one of the most ambitious communication initiatives ever undertaken in the country.