President Muhammadu Buhari has described 27-year-old gourmet chef, Hilda Bassey Effiong, as leading the world in resilience, perseverance, and consistency in cooking.
The President says he shares the joy of celebrations as Hilda Bassey Effiong, aka Hilda Baci, makes history by breaking the world record of longest hours of cooking, even as she awaits her formal admission into the Guinness Book of Records, and placing Nigeria on the global spotlight.
A statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Monday, states that, “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.”
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 4pm West African Time and she surpassed the current world record holder on Monday [today] 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 record 87 hours 45 minutes record uninterrupted cooking in 2019.
Baci’s cooking marathon is currently ongoing at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos State. She hopes to end it by 4PM WAT today.
See the full text of the President’s felicitation:
President Muhammadu Buhari 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, finding her way 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, and 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.
