It was a day of jubilation and shock at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria, as a female student achieved the unthinkable: she broke the Guinness World Record for the longest time spent washing clothes by hand. The student, Subair Enitan, washed a staggering 1,000 pieces of clothing in a span of 58 hours, surpassing the previous record of 850 pieces in 50 hours.
Enitan, a second-year student of Linguistics & African Language, said she took up the challenge to raise awareness and funds for a charity that supports children with disabilities. She started her marathon on Friday morning, with a bucket of water, a bar of soap, and a pile of donated clothes. She was cheered on by her friends, classmates, and lecturers, who also helped her to keep track of the time and the number of clothes.
“I wanted to do something extraordinary for a good cause,” Enitan said. “I have always been passionate about helping people who are less fortunate than me. I thought this would be a great way to show my support and also inspire others to do the same.”
Enitan said she did not sleep or eat during the entire duration of the challenge, except for drinking water and taking occasional breaks. She said she relied on her determination and faith to keep her going. “I prayed a lot and listened to motivational songs. I also thought about the children who would benefit from this. They gave me the strength to continue,” she said.
However, her heroic feat came at a cost. As soon as she finished washing the last piece of clothing, she collapsed on the ground, unconscious. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion. She is currently receiving treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.
Her charity, Hope for the Disabled, has also expressed gratitude and admiration for her efforts. “She is a remarkable young woman who has shown incredible courage and compassion. We are so proud of her and we thank her for her generosity,” the charity said in a statement.
Enitan’s story has gone viral on social media, with many people praising her for her achievement and wishing her a speedy recovery. Some have also criticized the university for allowing her to endanger her health and called for better regulations and supervision for such events. Enitan, however, said she has no regrets and would do it again if she had the chance. “I did it for a good cause and I am happy with the outcome. I hope my story will inspire others to do something positive for the world,” she said.
