On Monday, Nigerian chef Hilda Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, achieved history by shattering the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking session by an individual.
As of 11:22am on Monday, Baci has cooked for 91 hours and 21 minutes to surpass the previous record set by an Indian chef, Lata Tondon in 2019. The previous titleholder cooked for 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 secs.
Baci started her four-day cooking marathon challenge on May 11 at the Amore Gardens.
The 27-year-old will keep cooking to extend the record till the 96th hour.
On why she embarked on the challenge, Baci said it is one of her biggest aspirations, adding that it is also an opportunity to tell some positive stories from Africa through the meals that we eat.
“The journey to the cook-a-thon started five years ago. It is one of my biggest aspirations and I am glad that I took the bold step to embark on this adventure. I have taken time to prepare for this psychologically and I am proud to finally take on this challenge.”
“The cook-a-thon is also an opportunity to tell some of the positive stories that come from Africa through the meals that we make.”
“This attempt is also proof of the strength young people can exhibit with the right platform and support. I look forward to receiving support from people across the world to achieve this feat,” she said.
Her quest to make history has generated so much buzz among Nigerians who are still rallying support for her both on social media and at the venue of the cook-a-thon, Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos State.
Already, congratulations have started pouring in for the chef.
Numerous dignitaries, including Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, have supported Baci in her endeavors and praised her tenacity and grit.
On Sunday, Sanwo-Olu visited the chef at the Amore Gardens in the state’s Lekki district and cheered her up. Bolaji Idowu, the senior pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre Lagos, as well as actor Charles Okocha and others paid the chef a visit.