Pauline OdhiamboA Nigerian tailor is chasing a world record. Abdulkadir Hassan Basari completed a 120-hour, non-stop sewing marathon in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest sewing marathon.
Basari used his five-day challenge to sew school uniforms for underprivileged children, turning the attempt into a mission to support education and give back to his community.
The Kano-based tailor kicked off the challenge on Wednesday 7 October. He completed it on Monday.
He had earlier announced the initiative, titled "Sew for the Nation", in a video posted on his social media handles in September, saying he would use the marathon to support education for less-privileged children.
Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, more than 10 million, according to UNICEF. The majority of them are in the northern part of the country, where the world-record-chasing tailor is based. And Basari was clear from the outset, saying the attempt was not just about breaking a record, but also about inspiring creativity, resilience and the value of vocational skills.
In his words: "This is for every dreamer, every artisan and every young Nigerian with a vision.
"Surge in record applications
Basari aims to surpass the current record of 106 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds, held by his fellow Nigerian tailor Oluwaseun Kuforiji, who set it in January 2025.
Guinness World Records is expected to review the attempt under its verification guidelines before granting official recognition.
Basari's attempt is part of a broader wave of Guinness World Record interest sweeping Nigeria, a phenomenon largely ignited by celebrity chef Hilda Baci's 93-hour and 11-minute cook-a-thon in May 2023.
That single event, which captured global attention through livestreams and viral social media moments, triggered an unprecedented surge in record applications.
According to the Associated Press, 5,042 people in Nigeria applied for a record between January 2022 and September 2026, with 3,346 actual attempts, placing Nigeria seventh globally by applicant volume.
Analysts and participants describe the pursuit as a way for Nigerian creatives to secure more international recognition. Several of them have successfully won Guinness World Record titles in their various fields.
Basari's sewing marathon, with its focus on vocational skills and community support, adds another thread to this growing tapestry of Nigerian ambition.
