FACT-CHECK: Did 15-Year-old Nigerian, Vincent Okezie Win Football Guinness World Records?

FACT-CHECK: Did 15-Year-old Nigerian, Vincent Okezie Win Football Guinness World Records? 

CLAIM: A widely shared Facebook post claimed that one 15-year-old Vincent Okezie had won a football Guinness World Record later became a mechanic due to lack of sponsorship and supports from the government and the public. 

Full-Text: The post which has generated shares, likes, and comments reads: “At the age of 15, Vincent Okezie won 5 football Guinness World Records, yet no one celebrated him. Today, he is a mechanic apprentice at 16 because he had no support for his football passion. Video will be ready tomorrow. #luckyudu[sic]” 

Commenting, a Facebook user—Akegwure Austin said, “Great job Lucky Udu for bringing him to the public notice.  

“However, let me quickly point out that having talent is a good thing but as it is evident in this case, TALENT alone is not enough. 

“You might be the best at what you do but if no one knows about you it will be difficult to profit from it. Be VISIBLE, no one lights a candle and put it under a bushel. 

“Additionally, the people you have in your life are also very important. There are so many people out there who are great at what they do but grew unnoticed and died unnoticed. I pray for anyone reading this post that your light must not be hidden in Jesus’ name, amen[sic]” 

Another user, Kelechi Okoro, among thousands of commenters also said, “ The difference between Hilda’s case and his is intentional.  

“It’s one thing to achieve a great feat and it’s another thing to make noise about it! 

“Be intentional in everything you do. 

“What Hilda did differently is getting a good PR person to publicize what she was doing.  

“She also got a good team and sponsors and leveraged on her existing networks to further spotlight her cookathon.  

“You can be doing great things but if you don’t publicize it, it’s just like lighting a lone candle in pitch black.  It won’t illuminate. 

“The power of social media and PR cannot be ignored. 

“To shine bright you need to light more candles.  Selah [sic].

Guinness World Records is a platform with 34 million followers, where different incredible talents and exceptional issues are showcased for global rating and recognition. 

Verification: PRNigeria conducted a keyword search and the result revealed that Legit has published a similar story of the unhelped 15-year-old boy who was said to have won multiple Football Guinness World Records but later deleted it as the link is not opening. 

In August 2022, Guinness World Records published on its websites that an Abia 15-year-old Vincent Okezie alongside Richard Kipo achieved “the most over and underpasses of a football (soccer ball) with feet touching in one minute.” 

The post containing the claim has, at the time of carrying out this fact check, generated 51k likes, 4k comments, and 2.1k shares. 

Meanwhile, PRNigeria further discovered that Vincent’s name appeared on Most transfers of footballs (soccer balls) spun on the finger in 30 seconds (team of two);  the “Most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person” in March 2022. He was also named with Victor Richard Kipo in the “the most football (soccer) ‘around the world’ tricks with arms linked (team of two) in March 2023.

In another investigation, PRNigeria detected a video wherein the boy in question spoke about his uncelebrated football strides. 

He said, “My name is Okezie Vincent. I won Guinness World Records four times and nobody in Nigeria has celebrated me. Now I am working as an apprentice in a mechanic workshop because there was no opportunity for me to pursue my football career.” 

Okezie was seen displaying his football talents that earned the certificates in the footage that is enjoying massive sharing on social media platforms. 

While there is a discrepancy regarding the number of records attributed to him, Okezie in a widely shared post was seen holding five Guinness World Records certificates. 

Conclusion: Based on the facts gathered by PRNigeria, Vincent Okezie has won the Guinness World Records at different occasions. 

However, some of the winning acts were performed with other Nigerians namely: Victor Richard Kipo, Chukwuebuka Ezugha, 

Therefore, PRNigeria, concludes that it is TRUE the claim that Vincent Okezie won Guinness World Records on Football acts even though most occasions with other young Nigerians.

It is also discovered that he was not widely celebrated by the media and personalities as was the case with Nigerian Chef Hilda Baci

By PRNigeria