IT TOOK U.S.A. 250 YEARS, SO? – BAYODE TREASURES OLAWUNMI CHARGES NIGERIANS ON DEVELOPMENT
By Abayomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Guinness world record holder, Bayode Treasures Olawunmi with Editor, Trek Africa Newspaper, Abayomi Oyelami
While most Nigerians agree that change is possible in Nigeria, there is, albeit, the widespread opinion held by many that the task of setting Nigeria on a desirable pace of development may require several years, even donkey years. This widespread belief has been called to question. The challenge was posed by the World Record holder for the longest marathon read aloud and the Chief Operating Officer at iRead Afrika Foundation, Mr. Bayode Treasures Olawunmi during the ongoing quest for another Guinness World Record for a marathon read aloud – this time by a team.
Mr. Olawunmi argued: ‘Nigeria can change. It is possible. And it doesn’t have to take us long. When people say it took USA 250 years, it is irritating because in those days, they didn’t have the superior technology and information that is available now.’
‘Dubai was transformed in 20 years, so why can’t it take us 20 years to transform Nigeria – state by state, LG by LG. Dubai is just a state, it is not a country. At least in this country, Lagos also started in 1999 and even though Lagos is not there yet, it is not like other states. Let’s take it state-by-state but everybody is looking to Abuja.’
Speaking more on the reading challenge which will climax on the Tuesday 21st December, Bayode Treasures wants Nigerians to financially support a greater goal. The overarching quest for the world record is to build functional libraries across Nigeria especially in rural areas.
Donations can be made to:
A/c name: iRead Afrika Foundation
A/c no: 8534215010 (Naira)
A/c no: 8534215027 (Dollar)
FCMB
The man who is leading 4 other young Nigerians for the reading quest charged Nigerians on sociopolitical and economic development. ‘Let’s keep working. Let’s keep pushing until our children read. We must read. We have to read. When people say I don’t like reading, I wonder how. How will you not like reading? The person who knows to read but doesn’t read is no different from the person who does not read. Not reading for personal development and for knowledge is tantamount to someone saying ‘I hate politics’
