In Plateau state, Nigeria, a 19-year-old woman named Lisah Dachor took on an impressive challenge of painting over 4,000 nails in just 72 hours. She used vibrant colors like blue, pink, and purple to adorn hundreds of fingernails at an events center in her hometown. Her marathon spanned three days and ended with a nail-biting finish on Wednesday. To potentially break the Guinness World Record (GWR), Dachor had to paint 60 fingernails per hour, following the GWR rules.
Dachor’s motivation for this challenge went beyond personal achievement. She hoped to change perceptions about teen mothers like herself and offer hope to single mothers who are often underestimated. As an experienced nail technician for nearly three years, she also aimed to bring attention to women from northern Nigeria. Additionally, she wanted her record attempt to highlight Plateau, her home state, located at the intersection of Nigeria’s Muslim north and Christian south.
Despite its scenic beauty, Plateau has faced longstanding insecurity and conflict among various ethnic and religious groups. Dachor believed that showcasing the positive aspects of Plateau could challenge negative stereotypes. She expressed that people often judged Plateau based on the cover without fully understanding its beauty and diversity. While undertaking this attempt, she received support from all ethnic groups in Plateau, emphasizing the unity within the state despite ethnic issues.
Dachor is now awaiting GWR’s review after submitting her evidence. If successful in breaking the record, her achievement will inspire others to pursue their passions despite societal pressures and negative stereotypes.
