The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has unveiled a national reading relay tagged “My Family Companion National Reading Relay”, to promote nationwide literacy with the pursuit of international recognition (Guinness World Records).
This was revealed in a press conference held recently at the ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja.
Speaking at the unveiling, Emmanuel Essein, representing the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, describes the initiative that will project Nigeria’s image as a turning point for youth engagement and national advocacy.
The attempt targets the Guinness World Records for the Most People in an Online Video Reading Relay, with Nigeria aiming to mobilise over 300 readers from across the 36 states of the federation and the diaspora, more than double the current record of 130 participants.
The event takes place today, May 15, to mark the International Day of Families. It supports President Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, reflecting the government’s belief that the Nigerian family is central to the country’s stability, health and overall progress.
“The National Reading Relay is not merely an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. It is a national movement that harnesses the power of reading, storytelling, and youth participation to advance awareness of maternal, child and family health,” the minister stated.
The initiative centers on a book called My Family Companion, written by Otubo Victor. The book covers important topics such as sex, marriage preparation, pregnancy, infant care, maternal health, the role of fathers and common childhood illnesses. Written in a friendly, conversational tone, it guides readers through life stages from being single to becoming a parent, with each chapter drawn from real life experiences and offering practical medical information in an accessible way.
Otubo Victor, Executive Director of Stand Consults, was inspired to write the book by personal loss. He highlights Nigeria’s severe maternal mortality crisis, noting that the country accounts for nearly 20 percent of global maternal deaths, making health literacy a matter of life and death.
The minister stressed that the initiative aims to empower youth, women and children while championing maternal and child health across Nigeria.
The ministry specifically extended invitations to young Nigerians aged 35 and below who are active in the health and development space, including medical professionals, students, public health advocates, content creators, educators and socially conscious young leaders. Other readers will include health leaders, stakeholders and technical partners.
All participants who successfully complete the relay will be recognised as Guinness World Record holders. The event will also serve as the launch platform for the MFC One Million Family Outreach, a broader campaign aimed at expanding access to life-saving health knowledge through media, storytelling and community-driven engagement.
The initiative is a partnership between Otubo Victor, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria and Red Media Africa, with the ministry providing logistics and institutional support to ensure its success.
This effort also builds on Nigeria’s growing appetite for record-breaking literacy feats. In November 2025, the Naija ReadFest team, led by Kingsley Sintim, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud by a team, clocking 431 hours, 31 minutes and 25 seconds, surpassing a record held by the Dominican Republic for 14 years.
The My Family Companion relay now seeks to write another chapter in that story, this time with hundreds of voices across a nation united by a shared cause.
