A chef has spent more than 100 hours cooking in a bid to break a new Guinness World Record.
Hilda Baci, based in Lagos, Nigeria, has captivated the country with her cooking marathon, hoping to set a new record for the longest cooking session ever by an individual.
The 27-year-old has been backed by celebrities and politicians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, in her bid to break the current record of 87 hours and 45 minutes, set by Indian leader Lata Tondon in 2019.
Baci, also known as Hilda Bassey Effiong, started cooking on Thursday afternoon and finally quit on Monday evening.
Thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered to watch her prepare dishes, including West Africa’s signature dish, Jollof rice, with her efforts also streamed through several online streaming platforms.
She had five minutes off every hour and one hour off after 12 noon for medical checks, washing and rest.
The chef said she wanted to break the record in a bid to demonstrate how hardworking and determined young Nigerians are, and shine a light on young African women marginalized in society.
“Even when it comes to brands you want to work with, it’s like you have to go the extra mile to be taken seriously,” she said.
As Baci neared the 100-hour mark, President Buhari tweeted how big a day Monday was for Nigeria.
“We are all very proud of what she has personally achieved – and of putting Nigeria in the global spotlight,” he told his 4.5 million followers.
“Hilda’s drive, ambition and resilience sparked great interest and insight into the uniqueness of Nigerian cuisine.
“She is now a cultural icon and I believe this feat will inspire many more young people, in Nigeria and beyond, to follow in her footsteps.”
Guinness World Records tweeted that it was aware of the chef’s “incredible” attempt to enter the history books.
“We must first review all the evidence before officially confirming a record,” he said.
The chef started cooking on Thursday afternoon and finally stopped on Monday evening. Photo: AP
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