- Daniel Aiguokhian 300 level Philosophy student of UNICAL successfully attempted GWR write-a-thon
- He narrated the reasons behind his 188-hour writing exercise
- Daniel advised the youths to focus more on their inner potentials other than certificate acquisition
For Daniel Ehis Aiguokhian, life is full of risks and challenges. According to the 27-year-old third year Philosophy student of University of Calabar, UNICAL who is gradually becoming a world figure, success can only come through hard work, determination and self motivation.
Recently, Daniel came into world limelight when he began his Guinness World Record, GWR attempt for marathon fiction and nonfiction writing.
The record has never been set nor is it currently held by anyone.
Mr Aiguokhian, the Edo state-born prolific writer from Ovie South-West of the state started his seven-day write-a-thon challenge on the 1st of October which ended successful on the 8th of October.
It was a 188-hour writing challenge which saw him producing some fiction and nonfiction books.
Earlier before the exercise, Daniel told journalists that “My goal of doing this is to change the narrative of Nigeria and Africa by others, to tell the world that anything is possible if only you give yourself to it and also to appreciate the works and creativity of writers globally.”
In this exclusive interview with our reporter shortly after the successful 188-hour writing exercise, Mr. Daniel Aiguokhian explained what gave him the energy and motivation to go into the attempt.
Excerpts
What motivated you to go into GWR write-a-thon?
Well, what motivated me is that I wanted Nigerians and Africans as a whole to recognize the work writers put together to produce some piece of work for the public to read. So, I wanted to draw attention so government and indeed the general public should appreciate the writers the more. Again, I wanted young people to understand that to say that they are writers as a big task and as it is a gift they have in them. So, that motivated my attempt.
What was your greatest challenge during the attempt?
My greatest challenge during the attempt was sleep. I didn’t have enough time to sleep and it was a big challenge to me.
What was the greatest motivation for you during the attempt?
My greatest motivation was the fact that I was actually doing the right thing. Again, when I thought of the people that this attempt will inspire without, I was also motivated. This and other things motivated me to keep on.
Did you at any time think of giving up during the attempt?
Definitely, I thought of giving up on the fourth day of the attempt. But, when I thought of the motivation I got from Nigerians, it kept me going until the last day.
How did you feel when you eventually completed the attempt?
I felt so great. I felt so great because knowing or seeing something that looks so big that somebody cannot attempt, I felt so great that I was able to do it. So, having being able to do it, I felt so satisfied and fulfilled.
Can you tell us the books you have written before the attempts?
Before the attempt, I was already an author of 17 books.
What type of books did you write during the attempt?
I wrote on fiction and nonfiction. Currently, I am looking for publishers to publish these books.
Since you have completed the attempt, what next now?
I will start organizing conferences for writers where they will be trained to know the importance of what we are doing in the society and writing industry and all of that.
They will write and be trained, identified and awarded and be supported financially to push their writing skills forward.
Has Guinness Book of Record responded to your attempt?
No
Why?
It is not done that way. They have to verify it very well. It will take minimum of 12 weeks to get to me.
Since you are now in the literary world, do you have any plan of going higher may be, getting Nobel Prize?
Well, Nobel Prize is actually not in my plans for now.
What is your advice to the Nigerian and by extension, African youths?
My advice to the youths of Nigeria is that whatever that they have at hand doing, in as much as it is not an illegal stuff, they should stick to it. They should go on and execute those plans.
Let them take little steps and from there, they will be able to hit a greater goal. My advice is that they should not give up in their goal because in our world today, young people base their minds too much on certificate.
You will find out that they are in school just for certificate without harnessing their inner potentials that they have.
My advice once more for them is to focus more on their inner potentials rather than focusing on their certificate because their potentials will be the one to put them on the spotlight in the world.