Monday at precisely 20:40 WAT, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci surpassed her initial goal of 96 hours to establish a new Guinness World Record for ‘Marathon Cooking’ with 100 hours and forty minutes. The 27-year-old restaurateur kicked off the competition last Thursday at 16:00 WAT in Amore Gardens by turning on her cooker in an attempt to break Lata Tondon’s 2019 record of 87 hours and 45 minutes.
The chef, whose initial goal for the cooking marathon was 96 hours, displayed her culinary expertise using a variety of local and international recipes to place Nigeria on the culinary map of the world.
Hilda has received surges of support from Nigerian political leaders, celebrities, clerics, and well-intentioned citizens. In a tweet he shared on Monday, the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, expressed his elation, stating that he is “proud of what she has personally accomplished and for placing Nigeria in the global spotlight.”
He added that Hilda’s “drive, ambition, and tenacity have generated a great deal of interest and insight into the singularity of Nigerian cuisine.”He referred to her as a “cultural icon” and expressed his hope that “many more young people in Nigeria and around the world will follow in her footsteps.” Governor of Lagos State, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, who also attended the event, stated that he is “proud that Hilda is beginning this journey in our state.” At the conclusion of the event, Hilda Baci, who is no novice to the heat of the competitive kitchen, thanked everyone who had supported her throughout the competition.