Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has been named a Guinness World Records (GWR) Icon, becoming the first Nigerian to receive the honour for inspiring a surge in record-breaking attempts across the country.
Guinness World Records announced the recognition on Thursday, saying Baci’s achievements had extended beyond her own records by encouraging thousands of Nigerians to pursue world record titles.
The GWR Icon distinction is awarded to individuals whose accomplishments have had a lasting impact on record-breaking culture.
Baci rose to international prominence in May 2023 when she cooked continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lagos, setting what was then the Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon. Although that record has since been broken, Guinness World Records said the feat sparked unprecedented interest in record attempts in Nigeria.
According to the organisation, more than 1,500 new record applications were submitted from Nigeria within two months of Baci’s cook-a-thon.
“Her epic ‘cook-a-thon’ ushered in a wave of enthusiasm for record-breaking in Nigeria: within two months, GWR had received upwards of 1,500 new applications from the country,” Guinness World Records said.
Baci now holds three Guinness World Records. In addition to her cooking marathon, she partnered with food company Gino Nigeria to set the record for the largest serving of rice after preparing an 8,780-kilogram pot of jollof rice, which was distributed in more than 16,600 portions.
In a video released by Guinness World Records, Baci became emotional after receiving the recognition, describing it as an achievement she never imagined when she embarked on her first record attempt.
“I had so much faith in what I was doing. I never saw how far it could go, I never saw how much impact it would make,” she said. “I definitely did not think there would come a time I would not have one but three Guinness World Records, and now being named a Guinness World Records Icon.”
She dedicated the recognition to Nigeria, thanking supporters for helping transform her individual achievement into what she described as a national movement.
“This is for Nigeria, this is for all of us,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience, Baci advised aspiring record holders to prioritise preparation over passion, saying success requires physical training, mental resilience, a reliable support team and strict adherence to Guinness World Records guidelines.
“You need physical training, mental conditioning, a strong support team, proper documentation and absolute clarity on the guidelines,” she said. “When exhaustion hits – and it will – your reason has to be stronger than the discomfort.”
Baci also said she plans to expand her restaurant brand, My Food by Hilda, across Nigeria and into international markets, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Dubai and South Africa, as part of efforts to promote Nigerian cuisine globally.
While acknowledging that world records are eventually surpassed, she said inspiring others to pursue ambitious goals was a greater legacy.
“Records can be broken, that’s their nature. But inspiration, the ripple effect of belief, is what truly lasts,” she said.
