Nigeria has made a push on global intellectual discourse as the School of Eloquence completed a 480-hour non-stop public speaking relay in Lagos, setting a benchmark, pending confirmation by Guinness World Records.

The 20-day marathon: “20 Days of Eloquence – Nigeria Speaks to the World,”.surpassed the record of 127 hours, 31 minutes and 43 seconds set in New Zealand in 2018, positioning the country as a rising force in structured communication and thought leadership.

The milestone was sealed at 3:35 p.m. on April 21, when Dean of School of Eloquence, Mr. Ubong Essien, led the final countdown.

The official timer confirmed completion of 480 hours, triggering applause and emotional celebrations from participants and observers.

Moments after the relay, the achievement moved into the global spotlight through a virtual validation featuring an official Guinness World Records adjudicator, Lena Kuhlmann, and President and Chief Executive of National Speakers Association, Ms. Jaime Nolan.

Kuhlmann confirmed that the attempt has entered the official verification phase, during which submitted evidence will be reviewed in line with Guinness standards, with an announcement in the coming days. She noted the scale of the Nigerian feat, noting it has set a new performance threshold.

Nolan described the accomplishment as a defining moment for the global speaking profession.

“This 480-hour speaking relay is a remarkable demonstration of discipline, excellence, and collective purpose’’.

‘‘It expands what is possible in the speaking profession and places Nigeria firmly on the global map as a source of structured, powerful, and impactful voices,” she said.

She added that the initiative represents “a turning point for the global speaking profession,” opening doors for “greater collaboration across Africa and internationally,” while signaling Nigeria’s emergence “as a serious contributor to global thought leadership.”

The closing ceremony drew key stakeholders, including the Special Adviser on Blue Economy to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Oluwadamilola; the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Christiana Salwang; and the Registrar of the School of Eloquence, Mrs. Patience Essien. Also present were senior alumni, members of the Learning and Development Network International, including Mr. Victor Diali and Ms. Sandra Iheanacho, as well as NYSC participants who took part in the relay.

Oluwadamilola commended the initiative, describing it as more than a record attempt.

“What we have witnessed here goes beyond a record attempt. This is a structured national intervention in the way we think, speak, and engage as a people. The School of Eloquence has demonstrated leadership in shaping the future of communication in Nigeria,” he said.

Explaining the vision behind the project, Essien said the marathon was designed to commemorate 20 years of the institution through a symbolic relay of ideas and voices.

“This was designed as a succession of voices—a relay of ideas across 20 days. It is our contribution to building a culture where communication is deliberate, structured, and impactful across every level of society—from young people to policymakers,” he stated.

He noted that the initiative was aimed at driving a national culture of articulation, strengthening public discourse, equipping Nigerians to think clearly and communicate effectively, and positioning the country as a global voice in leadership and ideas.

Over the 20-day period, the platform hosted a continuous stream of speakers from diverse sectors and backgrounds, forming what participants described as “a national movement of voices—disciplined, deliberate, and transformational.”

With the successful completion of the marathon, organisers have begun compiling and submitting all required documentation for final verification. Given the presence of an assigned adjudicator and adherence to established guidelines throughout the process, expectations remain high that the feat will receive official recognition in the coming days. (The Nation News)

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