Guinness World Records (GWR) on Thursday named Nigerian chef and restaurateur Hilda Baci a GWR Icon, recognising the multiple record-holder’s impact on global record-breaking culture and her role in inspiring a wave of Guinness World Records attempts in Nigeria.
She becomes the first Nigerian to receive the GWR Icon recognition.
The GWR Icon title is a distinction used by Guinness World Records to recognise individuals, groups or globally significant figures whose achievements have gone beyond record-setting to leave a lasting international impact.
Baci is a multiple Guinness World Records holder whose achievements include setting the record for the longest individual cooking marathon in May 2023 and breaking two mass-cooking records in September 2025.
Reacting in a video shared by Guinness World Records, the chef became emotional as she reflected on her journey from attempting her first record to being recognised as a GWR Icon.
“I don’t know what to say… we started a movement. I did this. I don’t want to cry. It feels really good to know that things like this can happen to people like me,” she said.
Baci added that while she believed strongly in what she was doing, she never anticipated the scale of its impact.
“I had so much faith in what I was doing, I never saw how far it could go, I never saw how much impact it would make, I definitely did not think there would come a time I would not have one but three… and now being named a Guinness World Record Icon. I am so grateful to God. This is for Nigeria, this is for all of us.”
Explaining the recognition, Guinness World Records said record titles are often about more than breaking records, noting that such achievements can reflect a person’s self-belief, ambition and determination.
The organisation traced Baci’s journey from helping at her mother’s restaurant in Abuja while still in primary school to becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognised culinary figures.
After studying sociology, she explored careers in television and acting before becoming a professional chef in 2020 and launching her restaurant business.
According to Guinness World Records, Baci’s record-breaking cook-a-thon in Lagos between May 11 and 15, 2023, became a defining moment. She cooked continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes, drawing thousands of supporters and attracting global attention through livestreams.
Although the record has since been broken twice, Guinness said Baci’s achievement had already left a lasting mark. The organisation revealed that within two months of her attempt, it received more than 1,500 new applications from Nigeria, highlighting the surge in interest in record-breaking inspired by her feat.
When asked what advice she would give aspiring record breakers, Baci stressed the importance of preparation.
“Preparation is everything. Passion alone is not enough,” she said, adding that challengers need physical training, mental conditioning, proper documentation, a strong support team and a clear understanding of Guinness World Records guidelines.
Baci returned to the record books in September 2025 when she partnered with Gino Nigeria to create the largest serving of rice in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The record-breaking dish weighed 8,780 kilograms and was prepared using 4,000 kilograms of basmati rice, 164 kilograms of fresh goat meat and about 600 kilograms of her signature jollof pepper mix before being shared in more than 16,600 portions.
Reflecting on lessons from her career, she said, “Consistency beats talent. Systems beat hustle. And humility keeps you growing.”
Looking ahead, Baci said she hopes to expand My Food by Hilda across Nigeria and internationally, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Dubai and South Africa, while serving as a cultural ambassador for Nigerian cuisine.
She also said any future record attempt would have to serve a broader purpose beyond endurance.
“If my journey gave someone else the courage to attempt something bold, then that means more to me than the title itself,” she said. “Records can be broken — that’s their nature. But inspiration, the ripple effect of belief, is what truly lasts.”
The recognition underscores the influence of Baci’s record-breaking achievements, which not only earned her multiple Guinness World Records titles but also helped spark a nationwide enthusiasm for record attempts among Nigerians.
