Joel Ajayi
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, family wellbeing, and national development through its support for the My Family Companion National Reading Relay and Guinness World Record Attempt.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Essein, representing the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the initiative as a landmark national movement designed to promote literacy, youth engagement, and advocacy for maternal, child, and family health across Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister explained that the My Family Companion National Reading Relay is a Guinness World Record attempt spearheaded by a young Nigerian, Dr. Otubo Victor, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), and Red Media Africa. He announced that the event is scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, in commemoration of the globally recognised International Day of Families.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to strengthening Nigerian families as the foundation of national stability, health, productivity, and sustainable development, particularly following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development.
“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,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the current Guinness World Record for the Most People in an Online Video Reading Relay stands at 130 participants, while Nigeria aims to surpass this by mobilising over 300 readers from across the 36 states of the Federation and the diaspora.
He emphasised that, beyond setting a global record, the initiative seeks to amplify the voices of young Nigerians, strengthen family values, and nurture a new generation of advocates for maternal, newborn, child, and family health.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Stand Consults and author of My Family Companion, Dr. Otubo Victor, highlighted that Nigeria continues to face high maternal mortality rates, with postpartum haemorrhage remaining one of the leading causes of maternal deaths after childbirth. He noted that misinformation, delays in accessing medical care, and inadequate preventive healthcare practices significantly contribute to these avoidable deaths.
To address these challenges, he explained that awareness and counselling programmes are being implemented to educate women, girls, and communities on maternal health, preventive care, vaccination, and the importance of herd immunity.
Also speaking, Comrade Chukwuma Ugwoke, who represented the Director of Mental Health and Psychosocial Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Essein, described the initiative as “not just about reading a book, but about amplifying a message, connecting policy to people, and transforming awareness into action.”
He added that the programme provides a national platform to empower young Nigerians across the 36 states and in the diaspora to become advocates for maternal, child, and family health.
