Ayelabola Ololade, a final Computer Science student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has broken the 41-year old Guinness World Record for the longest distance catwalk by a model.
The previous record was held by two Ireland models in September 1983.
The event,which took place at the UNILAG indoor sports centre from October 1-5 saw a roaring cheer from family, friends and well-wishers supporting her till she achieved the milestone.
Sharing her feelings on achieving the milestone, Ololade said: “Mixed feelings actually it feels great to be breaking the record but you know beyond feeling seeing everybody around being inspired making some decisions saying some things really shows that it’s a job well done even though we just like broke the record it’s not like we’ve gotten any verification yet or any that but seeing some results already it’s a good.”
She appreciated her parents, volunteers and other stakeholders saying the milestone wouldn’t have been achieved without them.
“Even God will not deny the fact that he uses men of course God Almighty but then God uses men, there is nothing God will do on it that he will do that he will do without men so yes men from every single person from the Vice Chancellor to Professor Adebisi, to the entrepreneurship skill development centre to my family, my uncles, my friends, my models to everybody that i just met recently to team members to volunteers to every single person, they made it happen because I can’t be walking on stage and thinking about diesel I can’t be walking on stage to my PA to my best friend yeah that’s my PA to every every single person that traveled from Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, every single person that didn’t charge me a penny just to be a part of this event they all made it happen because it wouldn’t have been possible without them.
“My nurses came in from Abuja from Ibadan to treat me, that’s a huge sacrifice so they all made it happen i just did the walking.”
Advising other models, Ololade urged that they “dare to dream”, having it in mind that whatever they set to achieve is possible with the right attitude towards it.
She broke the 41-year old record with 2058 laps, cat-walking 130.62km to beat Roberta Brown and Lorraine McCourt who cat-walked for 114.4 km.
