A rare and unprecedented feat will be achieved on Saturday November, 24th 2012 as Gemstone Group, a social enterprise that focuses on raising exemplary leaders of excellence, attempts to put Nigeria on the global pedestal, by organising a maiden and unique literacy program tagged “GEMSTONE GLOBAL READING FESTIVAL (GGRF).
The record-breaking program is aimed at improving literacy and reading culture in the world, especially amongst teenagers and youths.
The novel initiative will ensure the setting and breaking of Guinness World Records in the following categories:
- THE MOST NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING READ TO BY AN ADULT (Currently 4,222 people to 50,000 people)
- THE LARGEST BOOK READING EVENT BY AN AUTHOR (Currently 5,406 people to 50,000 people)
- THE LARGEST GLOBAL READING LESSON IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES SIMULTANEOUSLY (New Category).
The 17-day festival is expected to hold simultaneously in 17 different cities across Nigeria and in 17 different countries in the world, some of which are Malaysia, United Kingdom, South Africa etc, with the grand finale on Saturday November 24, 2012.
The matchless feat is a brainchild of renowned motivational speaker, Fela Durotoye.
Apart from breaking and setting of records, the organizers intend to use the ground-breaking exploit to promote world peace, by ringing the peace bell concurrently at 12 noon Nigerian time in all venues. Objectives of the book reading festival also include:promoting Academic excellence, Improving the literacy level in the country, drive and instill the reading culture in Nigerian students, teach the Principles of Success, raise Youth Leaders, sharpen students’ reading and listening skills and also provide a yearly platform for stakeholders of the industry to get involved in developing educational sector in the country.
At the grande finale, the First Lady of the Lagos State – H.E. Dame Emanuella Abimbola Fashola, The First Lady of Kwara State – H.E. Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed and a host of others first ladies are expected to be the LEAD READERS in their states.
Excerpts from Mr,. Durotoye’s “17 Secrets of High Flying Students”, an inspirational book that shares 17 Leadership Secrets and Principles that guarantee Leadership and Academic Excellence will be read at the event and in schools across all venues during the 17 days the festival by volunteer mentors.
The book has received official endorsements from the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation under the leadership of Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili, Former Minister of Information.
Pastor E.A Adeboye (General Overseer, Redeem Christian Church of God Worldwide) leads the pack of revered men of God who have given the book an okay.
Several Organizations have also bought the book and distributed to schools nationwide. Some of these organizations include; STANBIC IBTC (the Nigerian division of [[South Africa’s Stanbic Bank), GTBANK (Guaranty Trust Bank), BANK PHB (now Keystone Bank), Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), Sterling Bank, as well as Multinational Corporations like Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, Oando Plc, to mention a few.
The book has also been distributed to students by the governments of Lagos State, Abia State, Plateau State, Rivers State and Oyo State, etc.
This is simply AWESOME!