The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Monday, said he shares the joy of celebrations as 27-year-old gourmet chef, Hilda Bassey Effiong, aka Hilda Baci, makes history by breaking the world record of longest hours of cooking and entering into the Guinness Book of Records, and placing Nigeria on the global spotlight.
“President Buhari lauds the young culinary expert for turning her talent and passion into a career, with a rippling effect on the economy as she runs a restaurant in Lagos, trains other talents on entrepreneurship, and now leads the world in resilience, perseverance, and consistency in cooking,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, read on Monday.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari hails Hilda Baci for placing Nigeria on the global map.’
The restaurateur began the competition on Thursday after she turned on her cooker at 4 pm and surpassed the current world record holder on Monday morning.
If certified by the Guinness World Record, she will be displacing the current world record holder, Lata Tondon, an Indian chef who achieved a similar feat in 2019 logging 87 hours 45 minutes record uninterrupted cooking.
Baci’s cooking marathon is currently ongoing at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos State.
She hit the four-day mark on Monday morning.
The President noted the antecedents of the restaurateur, who dazzled at the Jollof Face-off Competition, in 2021, preparing mouth-watering dishes that won the choice prize, and settled an age-long rivalry with Ghana on which African country should own the trademark for cooking better jollof- rice.
Buhari also believes that Baci’s drive and ambition have brought more interest and insight into the uniqueness of Nigerian food, as another cultural icon, with huge tourism benefits, hoping more young people will follow in her footsteps.
He thanked the sponsors of the Hilda Baci Cook-a-thon, government officials, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, celebrities from the bubbling music and movie industry, and fans of the chef for all the support that has brought glory to the country.
The President also wishes Hilda Baci more grace for a prosperous career.
