A celebrated Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, has achieved a historic milestone by setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
On April 15, Onakoya surpassed the previous record after playing chess for an uninterrupted 60 hours in Times Square, New York.
Onakoya’s new record has not only placed him in the prestigious ranks of Guinness World Record holders but has also spotlighted the extraordinary mental and physical endurance required in competitive chess.
The Guinness Book of Records, first published in 1955 by Ireland’s Guinness Brewery, serves as the ultimate authority on record-breaking achievements.
Aspiring record holders must undergo a rigorous verification process to earn a place in this globally recognized book.
Onakoya’s achievement adds him to the esteemed list of Nigerians who have earned Guinness World Records, showcasing the diverse talents from the country on a global stage.
His remarkable feat was witnessed by a large crowd in Times Square and celebrated by chess enthusiasts worldwide.
Here is the list of Nigerians who have won the Guinness World Record.
1. FELA KUTI
Fela Kuti recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of a solo career spanning 23 years. The first solo album was recorded in 1969 and the last in 1992.
2. ADEOYE AJIBOLA
Adeoye Ajibola (Nigeria) ran the men’s 100 metres in 10.72 seconds at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, on 6 September 1992. Ajibola competes in the T46 classification, for athletes with an impairment that affects their arms or legs, including amputees.
3. FAMILY OF DAVID OMUEYA DAFINONE
Senator David Omueya Dafinone holds the Guinness World Record for having the largest number of family members in the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Three sons and two daughters of Senator David Omueya and Cynthia Esella Dafinone of Lagos, Nigeria, all qualified as members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales between 1986 and 1999.
Their father had also become a member of the same institution in 1963. Igho Omueya Dafinone, Ede Omueya Dafinone and Duvie Omueya Dafinone are working within the firm of D O Dafinone Co. Chartered Accontants in Lagos. Daphne Omueya Dafinone and Joy Ufuoma Dafinone live in London.
4. KAFFY
Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau Aka Kaffy popularly known by her stage name Kaffy, is a dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and fitness coach.
She broke the Guinness World Record for “Longest Dance Party” at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.
5. YAKUBU ADESOKAN
Nigeria’s Yakubu Adesokan lifted 180 kg in the men’s -48 kg powerlifting competition at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 30 August 2012.
6. JOY ONAOLAPO
Nigeria’s Joy Onaolapo won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 1 September 2012 when she produced a lift of 131 kg in the women’s -52 kg division.
7. MODENINE
The Headies (formerly the Hip Hop World Awards), were inaugurated by Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006 to honour outstanding achievement in Nigerian music. British-born rapper Modenine (aka Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, Nigeria) has, appropriately enough, won nine Headies: Best Rap Album (Malcolm IX – The Lost Sessions, 2006), Best Rap Single (“Cry”, 2007) and seven “Lyricist on the Roll” awards (2006–11 and 2013).
8. STEPHEN KESHI
The youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach is Stephen Keshi (b. 31 January 1961, Nigeria) who was 52 years and 10 days old when he won the tournament as head coach of Nigeria at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 February 2013.
Keshi was captain of the national team when he won the tournament as a player in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. As a manager Keshi lead his team to glory after a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final.
9. MFON UDOH
Mfon Udoh scored 23 goals for Enyimba in the Nigerian Premier League in 2013–14, breaking the previous best of 20 set by Jude Aneke (Nigeria) in 2010–11. It was Udoh’s first season for Enyimba, having transferred from Akwa United FC.
10. TUEDON MORGAN
The fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole (female) is 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec, and was achieved by Tuedon Morgan (Nigeria), from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015.
11. LAURITTA ONYE
The farthest shot put by a female F40 athlete is 8.40 m, achieved by Lauritta Onye (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.
12. LUCY EJIKE
The heaviest powerlift for a -61 kg female athlete is 142 kg, achieved by Lucy Ejike (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.
Her lift of 127.5 kg in the women’s -44 kg division has also stood since 20 September 2004, when she won gold at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
13. FLORA UGWUNWA
The farthest female F54 javelin throw is 20.25 metres, achieved by Flora Ugwunwa (Nigeria) on 13 September 2016.
14. WIZKID
The first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify is “One Dance” by Drake (Canada) featuring musicians Wizkid and Kyla, as of 16 December 2016.
15-31. JOSHUA JASON USORO, NELSON IKUKPU, CHRISTOPHER, ESIRI DAVID, KADA SHAMMAH, OTUM JOSHUA, NELSON STEVEN, ALICE, PAUL SNEH, JANET JIYA, CHIZZY, ABAYOMI OYEBANJI, TRUST, MODESOLA, KIVYSTON, AMOS, SHAZAM.
The longest dance marathon relay is 53 hr 28 min 47 sec, and was achieved by Team Jason Joshua Usoro (all Nigeria) in Lagos, Nigeria, on 6 April 2019.
32. PAUL KEHINDE
The heaviest para powerlift by a male in the -65 kg category is 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), achieved by Paul Kehinde (Nigeria) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 19 February 2018. Kehinde broke his own world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.
33. BLESSING OKAGBARE
The most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete is 67, achieved by Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) in the 100 metres, 200 metres and long jump disciplines between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.
34. HARUNA ABDULAZEEZ
The most American football touches with the feet in one minute (male) is 75 and was achieved by Haruna Abdulazeez (Nigeria) in Kano, Nigeria, on 1 October 2020.
35. BAYO OMOBORIOWO
The largest photo book measures 60.84 m² (654 ft² 87 in²) achieved by TheJTAgency, Bayo Omoboriowo and Federal Republic of Nigeria, (all Nigeria) in Abuja, Nigeria, verified on 30 September 2021.
The book is a recreation of the photo book titled Discover Nigeria.
36. CHINONSO ECHE
The most football (soccer ball) headers in a prone position in one minute is 233 and was achieved by Chinonso Eche (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021.
Eche also holds the record for the fastest time to 1000 football (soccer ball) touches while balancing a ball on the head in 7 min 46 sec in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021.
He equally earned the record of the most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head which is 111 in Warri, Nigeria, on 14 November 2019.
37. DJ YIN
Nigerian Disc Jockey Oyinka Asu-Johnson professionally known as DJ Yin broke the World Record for the longest Dj set on October 2021.
She broke the record by operating her set for 243 hours, 30 minutes, at The Grill by Yanna, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The record was previously held by a Nigerian, DJ Obi, when he performed for 230 hours at the Sao Cafe in Lagos, Nigeria.
Dj Obi broke the previous record of 200 hours which was set by a Polish DJ, Norbert Selmaj in Dublin, 2014.
38. PETER AHO
Nigeria’s Peter Aho took six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone in a match staged at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval in Nigeria on 24 October 2021. This included a hat-trick with the last ball of the second over and the first two balls of the fourth as the visitors subsided to 70 all out, chasing 91 for victory.
39. FOLASHADE OLUWAFEMIAYO
The heaviest powerlift by a female in the -86 kg category is 152.5 kg (336 lb 3 oz), achieved by Folashade Oluwafemiayo (Nigeria) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 3 December 2021.
She had to settle for a silver medal in the women’s -75 kg class at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 3 September 2012, but earlier that same day she completed a record lift of 148 kg.
40-41. VICTOR RICHARD KIPO, CHUKWUEBUKA EZUGHA
The most consecutive football (soccer) passes with the soles (team of two) is 198, achieved by Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo (both Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 18 December 2021.
They also hold the record for the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles (team of two) which is 252, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.
Vincent Okezie joined them to achieve the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person which is 129, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.
42. BOSE OMOLAYO
The heaviest Para powerlift by a female in the -79 kg category is 144 kg (317 lb 7 oz), achieved by Bose Omolayo (Nigeria) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 December 2021.
43. VINCENT OKEZIE
The most consecutive backwards handsprings with a football (soccer ball) between the legs is 10, achieved by Vincent Okezie (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.
He also joined Chukwuebuka Ezugha, Victor Richard Kipo to achieve the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person which is 129, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.
44. GBENGA EZEKIEL
Ezekiel achieved the most skips in one minute on one leg (278), breaking his own record of 265, and the most double under skips in one minute on one leg (144), beating the previous record of 132, set by India’s Himanshu Prajapati in 2021.
45. DIVINE IKUBOR (REMA)
Rapper Rema made history in May 2023 as the first artist to top the MENA charts setting a new Guinness Book of Records.
Calm Down was released on February 11, 2022 and was one of the fastest songs to get over 100 million streams on Spotify.
This song has made it to the Guinness Book of Records, making Rema the first artist to Top the MENA(Middle Eastern and North Africa) chart.
46. HILDA BACI
Nigerian chef Hilda Baci on May 15, 2023 broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time.
Hilda broke the record of 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds set by Chef Lata Tondon in Rewa, India, in 2019.
47. TUNDE ONAKOYE
Tunde Onakoya is the latest Nigerian to break the Guinness World Record after an unprecedented and uninterrupted 60-hour chess session.
