By Deborah Nnamdi
Celebrity chef and multiple Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has celebrated her 30th birthday with a heartfelt message of gratitude and hope, describing the milestone as the start of “a brand-new book.”
“This is 30, and it feels like stepping into a brand-new book, not just another chapter,” she wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “I carry every lesson, every tear, every win with me, but I walk forward lighter, stronger, and overflowing with gratitude to God. The woman I’ve prayed to be is the woman I’m becoming.”
Her birthday comes shortly after yet another groundbreaking achievement. On September 15, 2025, Baci set a new Guinness World Record for preparing the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice, cooking a pot weighing 8,000 kg (17,637 lbs). The historic feat, which attracted thousands of spectators in Lagos, was officially confirmed by Guinness World Records.
The latest record cements Baci’s status as a trailblazer in Nigerian culinary history. It follows her 2023 achievement when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes to claim the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, an accomplishment that earned her international acclaim.
Through her extraordinary journey, Baci has not only spotlighted Nigerian cuisine on the global stage but also inspired millions across Africa and beyond. As she embraces a new decade, her reflection underscores the resilience, ambition, and gratitude that continue to shape her career and legacy.
