A Nigerian woman, Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, has successfully completed a 144-hour attempt for the longest marathon reading of the Holy Bible.
The event, tagged “144 Hours in the Word,” ended on Monday, June 29, after six days of continuous reading aloud. The challenge took place at the Novotel hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, under strict guidelines that allow only short, limited breaks for basic needs.
Habibat, who is a member of the Summit Bible Church in Port Harcourt, began her journey on June 22. Her senior pastor, Dr. Andy Osakwe, described the event as a spiritual project meant to inspire believers and encourage deeper Bible study. Throughout the six days, family, friends, and church members supported her both physically at the venue and online through video live streams that tracked her progress with digital timers.
This faith-driven effort comes after years of preparation that began in June 2022. While Nigeria’s Samson Ajao holds the official world record for the overall longest marathon reading aloud at 215 hours, Habibat’s 144-hour Bible-specific reading will now go through the official verification process by Guinness World Records before it can be formally recognized.
