Nigerian chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has surpassed the current Guinness World Record holder.
With her feat, she’s poised to break the Guinness World Record for the “longest cooking marathon by an individual” after hitting the 87 hours 50 minutes mark.
The restaurateur began the competition on Thursday after she turned on her cooker at 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 the feat in 2019 with 87 hours 45 minutes record uninterrupted cooking.
Hilda Baci’s cooking marathon is currently ongoing at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos State.
In her ongoing record-breaking attempt, Nigerians, including several celebrities defied the rain to physically cheer up the visibly tired chef.
Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour party, Mr. Peter Obi, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, were among those who hailed the efforts of the Lagos-based chef.
While Sanwo-Olu, invoking what he called “Lagos spirit” made a surprise appearance at the venue of the cooking contest on Sunday, Obi took to twitter to eulogise the resilience of the chef.
“The efforts being made by Hilda Effiong Bassey (Hilda Baci) to beat the current Guinness World Record for cooking for 4 days nonstop shows the true Nigerian spirit of hardwork and resilience,” Obi tweeted.
“I applaud her determination and focus on the goal, which is inspiring many Nigerian youths to live their dreams through hardwork and dedication.
“I wish her well on this noble journey to pen her name in the golden book of history. –PO”
On his part, Sanwo-Olu made a surprise appearance at Amore Gardens in Lekki on Sunday afternoon to motivate and celebrate the talented Hilda Baci, who is making a global record in Longest Cook-a-thon contest.
Hilda Baci hit the four-day mark on Monday morning.
The chef won the maiden edition of the Jollof Face-off Competition in 2021, pocketing a grand prize of $5000.
The Guinness Book of Records is a reference book that contains human and natural world records.
It was first published in 1955 by the Guinness Brewery in Ireland and has since become one of the world’s most well-known and frequently read reference books.
Individuals or groups must submit proof to the Guinness World Records team and go through a verification process to qualify for a world record listing.