The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has thrown his weight behind Miss Angel Riemen Asein, an indigene of Owan West Local Government Area of the state, as she attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud by an individual.

Obaseki made a N10 million presentation to her foundation when she was presented to the governor at the commissioning of the Cee-Jackson Apartment and the 73rd birthday celebration of the Chairman of Benin Port Project, Greg Ogbeifun, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

According to the 500 level undergraduate of Fishery and Aquatic Biology at the Lagos State University, her decision to embark on the world record attempt was to give support to ongoing efforts to eradicate prostitution and cultism in the State.

The read aloud marathon which is expected to last for 200 hours, would run for nine days, and is scheduled to take place at the State Library Complex, Secretariat Building, along Sapele Road, Benin City from February 23 to March 3, 2024.

Commending her efforts, Obaseki said “Asein represents what we are in Edo.”

Education is a tool needed to compete across the globe and to succeed in the future and we are making sure we provide such a platform for our people.”

He added, “I am passionate about this young girl who is trying to place Edo State in the Guinness Book of World Records by identifying with our own issues, telling the world our own stories, cleaning the distorted records, as she is trying to tell our own story to the world. I am giving you a present which is a donation to this young girl’s foundation. I am donating the sum of N10 million.”

Congratulating the celebrant, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, the governor prayed that God grants him long life in good health, noting, “We are celebrating him today because of what he represents to all of us. We have seen different aspects of him, his role as a father and brother in this family; his role as a community leader in this Community; his role with his Alma Mater; his role in his profession, and his activities in supporting different courses especially those that concern young people across the Country.

“I am proud of him as someone who, over the last seven years, has identified with us on the mission we are set out to achieve. That is, to take our legacy and inheritance, and reposition what we have inherited from our forebears and place us in a position to compete in today’s world, now and in the future.”

Obaseki added, “In the last seven years, we have tried to move Edo State from an ancient great city to a modern dynamic city. We are here to dedicate this property. We thank you for the work you have done for the State, especially the efforts put into the Benin Port Project.”

On his part, the celebrant who thanked God for good health, commended the governor and other guests for coming to felicitate with him.