Lagos Enters 'Guinness World Record'

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has stated that the huge investment of the State Government in the education sector is already achieving the desired results as the literacy level in the State is increasing just as many more Lagosians without a formal education are taking up mass literacy classes.

Adefulire stated this at a ceremony to receive the ‘Guinness World Record’ certificate for the largest assembly of children reading with an adult. The record was set on the 8 September 2011, when she read with 4,222 pupils, eclipsing the previous record held by the United Kingdom.

The Deputy Governor noted that the Fashola administration has remained committed to the development of education through the building and renovation of classrooms, provision of benches and desks as well as textbooks for school students, noting that this has encouraged the students to read more and also reduce the burden faced by their parents.

“With our mass education programme, more people are going back to the classroom and learning to read and write, and this has helped to reduce illiteracy level amongst our people and also open their eyes to the opportunities open to them for economic development and self reliant” she stated.

The Co-coordinator of the reading session, Mr. Adetola Adejuwon said the record previously held by the United Kingdom where 3,234 students read with an adult now belongs to Lagos State, courtesy of the Deputy Governor, noting that her participation in the programme demonstrated the passion of the State Government towards education and this has inspired the children to read more.

The presentation ceremony was witnessed by top government functionaries which included the Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olayinka Oladunjoye, her Information and Strategy counterpart, Lateef Ibirogba as well as that of the Tourism Ministry, Mr. Disun Holloway and other senior government officials.