Nigerian chef and entrepreneur Hilda Baci has reflected on her remarkable journey from helping at her mother’s restaurant as a child to becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated culinary figures and a Guinness World Records (GWR) ICON.
Baci, who began learning the art of cooking while assisting at her mother’s restaurant in Abuja during her primary school years, said her early experiences shaped her passion for the culinary profession.
Known for memorizing the restaurant’s menu and impressing customers, she developed a strong work ethic that would later define her career.
After studying sociology and exploring opportunities in television and acting, Baci eventually embraced cooking full-time, becoming a professional chef in 2020. She later established her food brand, My Food by Hilda, while building a large online following through recipe-sharing and culinary content.
The chef attributes her success to consistency, effective systems, and humility, describing them as the most important lessons she has learned throughout her career.
Baci rose to international prominence in May 2023 when she set a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual after cooking continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lekki, Lagos.
The feat attracted thousands of supporters and millions of online viewers, generating unprecedented interest that temporarily overwhelmed the Guinness World Records website.
Although the record has since been surpassed, Baci’s achievement sparked a nationwide enthusiasm for record-breaking, with more than 1,500 applications reportedly submitted from Nigeria within two months of her accomplishment.
Sharing advice for aspiring record breakers, Baci stressed the importance of preparation, discipline, and understanding the purpose behind any challenge.
“Preparation is everything. Passion alone is not enough,” she said, emphasizing the need for physical and mental readiness, a reliable support team, and strict adherence to established guidelines.
In September 2025, the celebrated chef added another milestone to her growing list of achievements by partnering with Gino Nigeria to prepare the world’s largest serving of rice in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The record-breaking dish weighed an astonishing 8,780 kilograms and required thousands of kilograms of rice, meat, and spices.
Despite logistical challenges, including damage to the specially designed cooking pot, the exercise was successfully completed, with more than 16,600 portions distributed to members of the public.
Baci said the choice of jollof rice for the record carried cultural significance, describing the popular West African dish as one of her favourites. She also expressed her love for Afang soup, a traditional delicacy from her native Akwa Ibom State.
Looking ahead, the entrepreneur said she plans to expand My Food by Hilda across Nigeria and into international markets, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Dubai, and South Africa, to promote Nigerian cuisine on the global stage.
While leaving the door open for future record attempts, Baci maintained that any new challenge must serve a broader purpose beyond personal achievement.
“For me, records are not just about endurance; they are about meaning,” she said.
The chef added that inspiring others to pursue ambitious goals remains her greatest accomplishment, noting that while records may eventually be broken, the impact of motivating people to believe in themselves can endure for generations.
(GWR)
