Anastasia Okechukwu Reporting
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, congratulated chef Hilda Bassey Effiong, aka Hilda Baci for breaking the world record of longest hours of cooking.
Recall that Baci in a quest to achieve the record began a four-day ‘cook-a-thon’ at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos state on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
She launched into the competition on Thursday at exactly 4pm 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.
Reacting, Buhari in a statement titled ‘President Buhari hails Hilda Baci for placing Nigeria on the global map’ issued by his spokesman, Bashir Ahmed, 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.
“The President notes the antecedents of the restaurateur, who dazzled at the Jollof Face-off Competition, 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.
“President Buhari believes Hilda 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.
“The President thanks the sponsors of 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.
“President Buhari wishes Hilda Baci more grace for a prosperous career,” the statement reads.