A Nigerian choral group based in Akwa Ibom State has broken the world record for the largest number of Christmas carol singers in the world.

The record, which has been officially certified by the Guinness World Records and pasted on its website, www.guinessworldrecords.com, was broken by the Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir, a 25,272 man-choral group, in a concert in the Uyo Township Stadium on Saturday, December 13, 2014 with Guinness World Records representatives in attendance.

The record consigned to the history books the former record of 15,674 carol singers, which was achieved one year earlier (on December 15, 2013), by a group known as CENTI, Bogota, Columbia.

The Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir sang a medley of The First Noel, Joy to the World, O Christmas Tree, Hark the Herald the Angels Sing, Once in Royal David’s City and O Come All Ye Faithful in an electrifying rendition which lasted over twenty minutes.

Guinness World Records adjudicator, Liz Smith, who did the announcement in Guinness World Record Headquarters, London, United Kingdom, congratulated the choir. She said: “It is now time to reveal the report of the official attempt to break the Guinness World Record of the largest group of carol singers. Our team of highly trained record specialists have reached a decision. The record to beat was 15,674. I can now confirm that your attempt to break the record has been successful. Congratulations on receiving a new Guinness World Records Title. The title of the largest group of carol singers has been achieved by Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir. You are officially amazing.”

Breaking the news to Akwa Ibom people, Governor Godswill Akpabio said: “This month, we broke the Guinness Book of World Records, for the largest number of Carol Singers ever in the world. This momentous feat was achieved when Akwa Ibom people drawn from all the nooks and crannies of the state came together in the spirit of love and brotherhood. I believe that if we imbibe the virtue of love and stand together in brotherhood in the New Year, we would keep setting records and the walls of division, which have been erected by some selfish politicians, would tumble down.”

In his comments the Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Akwa Ibom State Government, and the organiser of the record-breaking choir, Mr Aniekpeno Tom Mkpanang, described the Guinness World Record as “another feather to the cap of a record breaking Governor who has already garnered record breaking accolades and honours for his great visionary leadership from the academia, churches, traditional institutions and the global community. Many of these institutions are places you cannot buy records from, which dispels the notion of sceptics that most such awards are bought. With this record from Guinness, earth and heaven celebrate him.”

Mr Mkpanang explained that the feat was accomplished via video adjudication audited by Alexander Forbes Consulting Actuaries, while Guinness World Records were the Supervising Actuarial Agency. Two independent witnesses, namely, Mrs Aity Dennis Inyang, a renowned artiste, and Mr Ukeme Udo, a lecturer in the Music Department of the University of Uyo, were also in attendance.

A Lagos-based company, Arcezia Security Solutions, served as Access Managers and controlled the turnstiles that conducted the headcount of the 25,272 record-breaking choir.

Commenting on the feat, a law practitioner, Barr Chris Inwang, urged succeeding administrations to continue with the culture of Christmas Carol singing and said breaking the Guinness World Record will further position the state as a tourist haven, especially during Yuletide seasons.

•Photo shows the Godswill Akpabio Unity Choir in action.