Hilda Baci named Guinness World Records icon after historic cooking achievements

Nigeria’s celebrated chef and culinary entrepreneur Hilda Baci has achieved another historic milestone after being officially named a Guinness World Records Icon, becoming the first Nigerian to receive the prestigious global recognition.

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The honour is reserved for individuals whose record-breaking achievements extend beyond statistics to create lasting global influence. According to Guinness World Records, Hilda Baci’s accomplishments have sparked a major cultural wave, inspiring more than 1,500 new record applications from Nigeria within just two months of her first attempt.

In response to the announcement, Hilda shared a reflective video montage capturing key moments of her journey, including her initial cook-a-thon, her large-scale mass catering achievements, and emotional calls from the Guinness World Records team confirming her milestones.

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The chef also opened up about her struggles with imposter syndrome, revealing that despite her success, she often found it difficult to fully accept her achievements. She admitted that she sometimes referred to herself in the third person as a way of processing her rapid rise to global recognition.

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Hilda dedicated the award to everyone who supported her journey, including chefs, media professionals, production teams, and supporters across Nigeria and Africa, expressing pride in putting Nigeria on the global map.

Hilda Baci wearing a face mask and an orange apron while tipping ingredients from a large metal pan into a massive cooking pot during her second successful record run. Photo Credit: Guinness World Records/Instagram

Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Records Journey

• May 2023: Cooked continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lagos, setting a record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

• September 2025: Led a mass cooking event producing 8,780kg of Nigerian Jollof rice, feeding over 16,600 people in Lagos.

• January 2026: Officially confirmed as a triple record holder after her Jollof rice feat also set a record for the largest serving of rice globally.

Her achievements have now cemented her status as one of Africa’s most influential culinary figures on the global stage.