Abia State government has thrown its weight behind a resident of Aba who would next month attempt to set a new Guinness World Records in painting of human faces.
Noah Geoffrey has been given official approval by Guiness Book of World Records to embark on attempting to break the existing record and set a new by painting the highest number of human faces in one hour.
Abia Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu made this known in Umuahia Monday April 14 after the meeting of the State Executive Council. He said that government was excited at the prospect of an Abian achieving the feat which would put the state on the global records of outstanding performances.
Kanu stated that the young artist, who resides in Aba would attempt to achieve the feat using materials, including canvass, all locally sourced in Aba.
“Mr Geoffrey aims to paint 300 faces in one hour which if achieved would surpass the current record of 217 as recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records.
“With the official approval from the Guinness World Records, the attempt is set to take place at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba on May 23, 2025,” Kanu said.
The Guinness World Record for the most faces painted in one hour by an individual is currently held by Gary Cole or tne United States of America(USA), who on September 1, 2007 painted a total of 217 different faces in one hour.
In achieving the feat at Almondvale Shopping Centre in Livingston, West Lothian, UK, Cole used a minimum of three colours for each face.
But Nigeria’s Geoffrey would aim to break the record that has stood for over 17 years and surpass it right here in Abia State, Nigeria thereby setting his own new record
The Information Commissioner said that government “is partnering Mr. Geoffrey through the State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to achieve this feat”.
According to him, the state government “is actively supporting the process of promoting a local talent in order to showcase the creative potential of Abians at the global stage”.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr. Matthew Ekwuribe, expressed optimism in the ability of the Abia young artist to accomplish the task of setting a Guiness World record in painting of most human faces in 60 minutes.
He said that his ministry would not only assembly the required humber of persons whose faces would be painted but also provide every other assistant that Geoffrey would need to achieve his goal