Hilda Baci’s achievements will inspire Nigerian youths – Sanwo-Olu’s aide

Hilda Baci’s achievements will inspire Nigerian youths – Sanwo-Olu’s aide

Hilda Baci

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Femi Martins, has said the new feat achieved by the Cook-a-thon record breaker, Hilda Effiong-Bassey, popularly called Hilda Baci, who ended her marathon cooking at 100 hours, will inspire Nigerian youths to do great things for themselves and the country.

Martins, who spoke during an interview at the location of the event at Amore Gardens, Lekki area of the state on Monday, said by the feat, Baci is on the brink of setting a new Guinness World Record for ‘longest cooking time’ by an individual.

While describing the Nigerian chef’s achievements as another milestone for the state, he expressed satisfaction at the overwhelming support and encouragement Nigerian youths showed Hilda Baci during her daring quest that culminated in her overthrowing and surpassing the record held by an Indian chef, Lata Tandon, for the longest cooking duration in the world.

Martins said, “This is another first for Lagos State because history is being made here. The fact that the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had also been here to encourage Baci shows that the Lagos State Government will definitely support her and others who are so inspired in line with THEMES Agenda.

“Also, the overwhelming support Nigerians have given to Hilda Baci signifies that a greater Lagos and indeed Nigeria is rising. This feat surely will motivate other youths to think deeply and look inwards to discover their talents and do great things for themselves and the country.”

Also present at the event included the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, who also spoke glowingly about the feat, the Deputy Director, Tourism Promotions, and the Deputy Director Public Affairs Unit.

Mid-Week Entertainment gathered that the Guinness Book of Records acknowledged Baci’s laudable efforts but had yet to release an official confirmation for her cooking record as the organisation said it was still reviewing the evidence.

Baci started cooking when she turned on her cooker around 4pm on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

At the outset of the marathon cooking streamed on Instagram and YouTube, her goal was to outclass the Indian record holder, who cooked for 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019, by achieving a non-stop cooking target of 96 hours.

However, with sheer determination and a boisterous crowd including celebrities cheering her up as she engaged in the cooking, Baci, after clinching the 96-hour target, went on to set a new global record of non-stop cooking for 100 hours.

Notable government officials including the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd); Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President-elect, Bola Tinubu, presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, and the governors of Lagos and Akwa-Ibom states, Sanwo-Olu and Udom Emmanuel, among others have congratulated the chef on the new feat.

Punch