Nigerian-born cloud engineer Abel Yakubu, who is based in Germany, has completed a 60-hour marathon programming lesson in Abuja, marking a major step toward breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest computer programming lesson in history.
Yakubu began the attempt at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 21, and finished at 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Minds and Emotions Centre, Graceland Garden, Wuse 2, Abuja. The current global record stands at 48 hours and 15 minutes, meaning Yakubu has now surpassed that benchmark pending official confirmation.
A statement signed by Grace Edibo, a Life Coach at the Minds and Emotions Centre, described the attempt as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s growing technology ecosystem. The event was streamed live on major social media platforms, with 60 students participating physically and more than 25 official witnesses monitoring the marathon session to ensure compliance with Guinness World Records guidelines.
Ajodo Ojotule Benjamin, a Guinness World Records official who supervised the training, confirmed that Yakubu and his team “fully complied with all requirements,” noting that the organisation is strict about adherence to its rules.
Yakubu, who has more than 10 years of experience in cloud engineering, taught across major cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure during the continuous session. Speaking after the feat, he said his mission went beyond breaking a record — it was about inspiring young Africans to embrace technology and build practical skills.
“I undertook this challenge to inspire young tech enthusiasts to develop profound tech skills, especially now that AI adoption is rising globally,” he said. He added that he had prepared physically and mentally for two months before the event. “The toughest period was going through the night. Training people on cloud computing all night is extremely tough. My voice is almost gone.”
Yakubu encouraged more young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities in the tech sector, noting that he has trained over 200 young people in the past year. “This is the right time to learn tech skills. Parents should encourage their children to learn digital skills. You can never go wrong by learning a skill,” he said.
He also said he would continue his advocacy, urging stakeholders to support youth in technology because of its importance to national development.
Participants at the marathon training praised Yakubu’s teaching approach. Fawole Blessing, one of the trainees, described the session as “relaxing and impactful,” saying the atmosphere was perfect for learning. Another participant, Adula Joseph Francis, said he initially attended out of curiosity but ended up staying for the entire three days. “Abel is doing a great job. The way he explains and breaks things down is exceptional. This challenge shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it,” he said.
Yakubu expressed gratitude to the Minds and Emotions Centre and his support team for coordinating the event.
Guinness World Records is expected to review all submitted evidence before confirming whether the 60-hour programming lesson officially sets a new world record.
