Ololade, GWR, and the Walk of Excellence

By Mariam Tijani

It is perhaps one of the most significant events in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at the moment. Ololade Ayelabola, after walking 130.62 km in 103 hours, has set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest distance walked on a catwalk. The attempt, which began on the 1st of October, ended on Sunday, October 6, with high-end frenzy for the record breaker, the institution, her sponsors, and supporters far and beyond. This attempt was held at the indoor sports hall in UNILAG, in collaboration with Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Center (EDSC), UNILAG.

Ololade Ayelabola, also known as Lade Wonder, is a 500 level student of computer science. She is a freelance model and voice over artist. Prior to her GWR attempt, Ololade had been crowned as the winner in campus beauty contests including Face of Akoka, in 2019. In 2021, she won the Most Beautiful Campus Queen contest.

Since the famous GWR attempt by Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef, the country has been thrown in a beaten trail of records-breaking. Tunde Onakoya, Fola David, to mention a few, are examples of Nigerians who have been driven to take on extraordinary challenge in their pertinent passions. Ololade is no exception. After more than four decades, she has succeeded in breaking the 41 year old record set by Roberta Brown and Lorraine McCourt, who walked 114.4km (71.1 miles) at Dublin, Ireland.

In accordance with Guinness World Record clarifications, the record breaker’s total distance will be calculated by multiplying the length of her catwalk by her number of completed laps. Although a bevy of models were seen walking on the runway, only Ololade’s walk counts. The GWR further emphasized that Ololade mustn’t repeat any outfit within a 12-hour cycle.

The record breaker, Ololade, recounted some experiences that sparked her desire to attempt the Guinness World Record challenge. Twice, on separate occasions, she has faced rejections to participate in national events, due to a rather biased reason – her height. Rather than dwelling on these rejections, Ololade took a bold step against her stereotypes.

“I am not only walking for myself, I am walking for the many models that have been limited by stereotypes and standards made by rigid systems,” she posted on her socials.

In her words, she was not only on a mission to break the world record, but to encourage inclusivity, to shatter barriers, to dare to dream, and to inspire generations of models.

Ololade’s attempt has become an internet sensation, moving beyond the walls of UNILAG, gracing the pages of the nation’s media houses anf sparking curiosity from notable organizations like Her Network, a pro-women organization. The admirable support from the university serves as a testament to the institution’s vast pursuits – beating a path of excellence for her students. Lade Wonder, the record breaker, has walked the excellent path, with perseverance, luster and grandeur.