Leadership coach and public speaker, Taiwo Isola, is set to attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest leadership lecture, delivering a 48-hour non-stop session from May 1 to May 3, 2026, in Osogbo, Osun State.

The event, titled “The Leadership Marathon,” is expected to draw professionals, aspiring leaders, and members of the public for an immersive engagement on leadership development. The marathon will explore four central themes: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Organisations and Leading Nations.

Beyond the ambition of setting a global record, according to Isola, the initiative is driven by a deeper mission to reshape perceptions of leadership and responsibility.

“This is not just another leadership session,” he stated. “It is about challenging how leadership is understood, addressing the gap between performance and responsibility, and promoting a model that builds institutions rather than exploits them.”

The idea for the marathon is rooted in his experience teaching a course on Leading Nations at the African Development University, where he engaged with students from across the continent and the exposure revealed a strong sense of patriotism and responsibility among young Africans, prompting reflections on governance and institutional development.

Isola warned that leadership failure often manifests subtly, making it more dangerous than outright collapse. He noted that, while nations may continue to conduct elections and execute policies, underlying decay can persist unnoticed.

“A nation may appear functional on the surface, but become hollow within. Hollowness is more dangerous because it mimics progress while eroding real value,” he said

Isola holds a master’s degree in Education and an MBA in Leadership and Management. He is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School and a recipient of the Embassy of Pakistan Teaching Excellence Award. In addition, he is a certified Peacebuilder under the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Young Peacebuilders Programme, and has served as Nigeria’s delegate to the United Nations Foundation’s Our Future Agenda.

Over the years, he has trained and mentored thousands of individuals in leadership, learning and systems development across Nigeria and beyond.

Organisers say the Leadership Marathon will be live-streamed, enabling participation from audiences across different countries. The event is also expected to attract wide media attention.

Isola described the initiative as both a personal endurance challenge and a generational responsibility. He expressed hope that the marathon would ignite conversations around service, accountability and the kind of leadership needed to strengthen institutions.

The attempt marks what he envisions as the beginning of a broader movement aimed at redefining leadership culture in Nigeria and beyond. (The Sun)

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