Rope skipping GWR holders seek N20m for London event

The Nigeria Rope Skipping Federation says they need the sum of N20m to sponsor their three Guinness World Record holders Gbenga Ezekiel (18), Dusin Dubem (17) and Philip Solomon (17) as well as their technical director Chibuisi Ukandu to London in September to attempt more records during the launch of the 2025 GWR book, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The three boys who are based in Akure, Ondo State, have six records between them and are going to be featured in the 2025 book which will be launched during the event at the Guinness World Record headquarters in London on September 12.

Solomon has the most records among the boys with the most skips on one leg in 30 seconds (153), the most crisscross skips on one leg in 30 seconds while being blindfolded (62) and the most crisscross skips on one leg in 30 seconds (69).

Ezekiel was the first to attempt a GWR in 2020 among the boys and he currently has two titles; the most skips on one leg in one minute (278) and the most double-under skips on one leg in one minute (144).

Dubem also recorded the most double-under crossover skips in 30 seconds (78).

“When officials of the GWR visited Akure in June to record the boys, they were indeed impressed by how the boys had made something out of nothing. They were expecting to see some gigantic facilities and all of that,” Ukandu, who doubles as the boys’ coach, told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“So, they want the children to be in London and possibly break new records.

“We have been trying to source funds believing that we will get government support as well, seeing that they are making the state and the country proud.”

NRSF president, Dayo Oyewo also noted that the body is unable to seek funds from the Ministry of Sports Development because they haven’t been granted full status by the ministry.

“At the federal level, we are incapacitated because the federation has not been granted full status. We don’t have any financial involvement with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development yet,” Oyewo said.

“However, we are making efforts on our own and we are hoping that the government and other private individuals will come to our aid with the amount we need for flight and accommodation for the three boys and one official.”