By Charles Kumolu,  Deputy Editor

In a society where legacies appear to matter less to the majority, someone is concerned about creating one for the next generation. The quest for materialism that seems to drive certain engagements in this clime means nothing to her.

All that Dr Fidelia Salami seeks now is how to project the country’s image by engaging in 300-hour Guinness Book of Record Read Aloud engagement. It sounds audacious, and it is indeed an audacious project. How possible could this be?

What does the immediate past Chairman, Board of Directors, Delta State Tourism Board, and author of many books want to achieve with Guinness Book of World Record Read Aloud? This interview has the answers to the puzzles around her desire to beat the current record of 215 hours non-stop reading.

Your plan of reading  for 300 hours non-stop sounds audacious. What makes you think it is possible? 

I  am Dr Fidelia Salami. I am the immediate past Chairman, Board of Directors, Delta State Tourism Board. I have written four tourism books. I studied English Language at the University of Maiduguri where I graduated with Second Class Upper Honours. I worked with Shell. I am also an entrepreneur. I later went to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife and studied Hospitality Management at postgraduate level. While in Delta State, I had to go to School of Hospitality Management, University of Port Harcourt to study Hospital Management and Tourism, and I graduated in 2023. So far, I am aiming higher by trying to beat the current Guinness Book of World Record Reading Aloud record holder. Mine is different because I am carving a niche for myself. I want to read tourism and hospitality management books for  students.

Another unique thing I want to do during the event is to project Nigeria. Everything I would be wearing would reflect Nigeria’s colours, green, white and green. It is to tell the world about our heritage. While doing that, I would be projecting our culture, tourism,  heritage and hospitality management in Nigeria.

What shape is the event going to take? 

I have studied past record holders, and have also applied to the Guinness Book of World Records. While reading the rules, I discovered that they are challenging. But I told myself that people had done it, and nothing is stopping me from beating their records. The Reading Aloud event  ought to have commenced in November, but I had to postpone it to next year because of some  preparations. I am still studying their rules and regulations to make sure I don’t leave anything out. I have a team. The event is going to take place in January, after the resumption of schools. It would be a 15-day event. I am looking at January 15-30. It would be a 15-day non-stop reading session. According to the rules, there would be a five-minute break for every one hour you read. If you could read for 10 hours, you have a 50-minute break.

The bottom line is that there are certain things you have to do before the event. You have to gather all the books you want to read, snap them and send them to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is for them to know the books you want to read. I told them I want to read books on culture, tourism and hospitality management. You need to also tell them the structures you have put in place. I want to read for 300 hours. The current record is 215 hours. Hopefully, I should be able to do the 300 hours. Through that, Nigeria’s tourism sector would be projected across the world.

The event would be streamed live for 24 hours daily. I must let you know that the event is capital intensive. I have spent millions so far from my savings. I don’t have financial sponsors yet. I have goodwill sponsors. But all I have been spending is from my savings. I am trusting God that I would have major sponsors as the preparation continues. The event would take place in Asaba, and I am hoping that my governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other eminent persons would be on the ground for the event. I am also looking forward to receiving support from individuals and corporate bodies. I am an energetic person. I am looking at a situation where the 300 hours would be a scale over for me. I have rehearsed a lot. I have rehearsed non-stop  for days. Some people ask about my vocal capacity. Yes, sometimes it is like you would go blank. And Guinness World Records said if you must pause, you shouldn’t pause for more than  60 seconds. If it is done for more than one minute, you are disqualified. It is natural that I pause, but I am working on my vocal skills to ensure I don’t flout the rules. So far, the rehearsals have been strenuous. I was weighing 95 kg , today I am weighing 85kg as a result of the rehearsals and other preparations.

Why would only reading make you lose weight that much? 

I stopped eating certain foods. I don’t eat  much carbohydrates anymore. I don’t drink much water when I am rehearsing because I don’t want to urinate frequently. I take a lot of honey because of my voice. Someone suggested I soak Okra in water and drink. I haven’t done that. I commend those who have broken that record. It is not an easy task, but with determination and perseverance, I would make it. I have always been a goal-getter. I want to create a record that would be difficult to break. When I told the current record holder, Samson Ajao, that I want to do 300 hours,  he screamed, and asked if I knew how he got his 215 hours. I said I knew how he got it because I followed him. I also followed Hilda Bassey.  Things like that excite me. I feel happy when I see people go the extra mile to achieve whatever feat they have projected to achieve. Mine is not different either. By God’s grace, I am seeing myself as the next record holder for Guinness Book of World Record Reading Aloud. 

This is a country where most engagements are driven by pecuniary expectations. One wonders what drives you in this ambitious quest… 

When you talk about casting names in stone, I have already done that. When people ask me such questions I ask them to search for my name on the internet and see what I have done. I have already made a name. I am just looking at keeping  a legacy for the next generation. I am embarking on this project for the purpose of education. I did my National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme in Anambra State. I served at Nnawfia Girls High School. I taught the students English Language. I remember vividly in 1999 when the principal of the school asked why I wasn’t teaching the students in Igbo language. I didn’t know the students had reported me. She asked about my place of origin, I said I am from Arbor, Delta State. She said how come the children didn’t understand when I taught them. I said I was using English. She said no that she wanted to beg me for a favour. She said I should interpret the English in Igbo for the sake of the children. That was the last time I taught in the school. The following week, I went to the Commissioner of Police office and redeployed my service to the state police command because I was a police officer. What I am saying is that what the students did at the time was to leave their house for the school, after a short while, they leave the school and go to the shop. Even the homework you give to them, some do it in school in the morning. Others didn’t even do theirs. When you ask, they start copying from the next person. This poor attitude to education is among the issues this project seeks to address. My books also address educational, tourism and hospitality management issues. The essence of this work is to carry the next generation along in this sector, otherwise there would be nothing for them in the nearest future.

How voluminous are the books you would be reading at the forum? 

That is even where I have some challenges. My books are not voluminous but I have a compendium of photographs.    The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR,       gave me some books, but I discovered that some of them are about 400 pages long. And those types of books are not easy to finish. However, the ones I would be reading are handy.  In hours, you can finish them. When I started rehearsing, I read about 10 books daily. What I do is that I don’t read fast. I intentionally take it at a slow pace because of the timing. I won’t rush and read one million books in three hours. While you are reading, you also make people understand what you are reading. I am a fast talker and fast reader, but because of this event, I am training to reduce my pace. Some people have also been generous to me on this project. One of them is Pelu Awofeso, he is a CNN awardee in Literature. He donated some books to me. I have other people also who donated books. I have Mrs Nana in Jos. I have books from my lecturer, Professor Bello. He donated 15 books to me. Dr Felix also donated nine books. People have been encouraging me. Professor Wole Soyinka also sent his moral support, seeing that such an event is a boost for the reading culture. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also endorsed the project. In the sector, we have people who do not really understand what tourism is all about, especially people from other backgrounds. When you talk about what you really want to do, they don’t understand. This is the time for me to let them know what I want to do. The tourism sector is a place where if you mentioned 50 names without mine, you may not be right. I have been honoured in that sector alongside eminent people like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

Doubting

Before I decided to embark on this project, I was doubting myself. With that fear in my mind, I didn’t know how to begin, but the moment I told the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers,  Uncle Sam Amuka, I was expecting him to ask why I would embark on such a project. But the encouragement I got from him made me apply to the Guinness Book of World Records the same day. Ever since then, there has been no looking back. 

You are not doing this for yourself but to reshape the tourism narrative in Nigeria. In view of this, how much do people know about this project? 

I have been able to publicise it in  print and electronic media. I haven’t had any international media coverage. In my state, I have met the Commissioner for Tourism and Commissioner for Education. I have also approached some corporate organisations. Some haven’t been forthcoming. They also complain about the economic situation of the country. I am still trusting God that they will come forth. 

What kind of impact do you envisage the project would have in the country, especially as regards the tourism narrative? 

The tourism narrative in Nigeria is still growing at a snail speed. My happiness is that the new Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy is a creative person. With the way the new minister is going, the tourism sector would be projected to the world. I have informed her about the event. This is an avenue for me to project the sector with the Guinness Book of World Record Reading Aloud. I am looking forward to an endorsement from the minister. If the minister endorses the project, it would be mind-blowing. The event would positively impact the education sector including secondary and tertiary levels. Tourism sector is one sector the world is at peace with. Nigeria doesn’t have a choice but to be at that level. I see Hilda Bassey as a mentor because I followed her and knew the amount of effort she put into hers.

Inspire millions

There is no doubt that this world record event will boost my résumé but most importantly, I would have achieved my ultimate focus and goal to inspire millions of students. It would increase interest in tourism, public reading, book clubs, arts, culture and creative-related engagements. It would promote and build a sound corporate image for the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and the creative industry in the federation and  world at large.

 

The Guinness World Record Longest Marathon Reading Aloud for Student Engagement would project Nigeria at the centre  as an education, arts, culture and tourism promoter. It would  contribute immensely to a fundamental global issue towards ensuring enhanced educational growth, which is the core objective of the historic adventure. The event would also afford   government the unique opportunity to identify, access and proffer solutions to developmental and financing issues that may have constituted hindrances to the effective financing and development of the education, tourism, arts, culture and creative sectors of the economy.