Lifestyle

PHOTOS: Hilda Baci’s Historic Guinness World Record Cook-a-Thon

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2025

Nigerian chef Hilda Bassey Effiong, popularly known as Hilda Baci, made global headlines in May 2023 when she set the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. At just 27 years old, she transformed a personal dream into a milestone that celebrated both resilience and the richness of Nigerian cuisine.

Early Life and Background

Born 20 September 1996 in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Hilda developed a love for food and hospitality from an early age. After moving to Lagos, she built a thriving career as a professional chef, television personality, and food entrepreneur. Her brand, My Food by Hilda, quickly earned recognition for its creative take on traditional Nigerian dishes, long before she attempted her historic record.

A 93-Hour Culinary Marathon

From 11–15 May 2023, Hilda cooked non-stop for 93 hours and 11 minutes at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos. The event, dubbed a “cook-a-thon,” became a national spectacle.

She prepared over 100 different dishes—from iconic Nigerian jollof rice and Afang soup to regional specialties such as Akwa Ibom’s fisherman soup and assorted stews.

Crowds of supporters, celebrities, and government officials thronged the venue, while millions followed live-streams across social media. Hilda endured sleepless nights, extreme heat from multiple cooking stations, and the physical strain of standing for nearly four days. Medical teams monitored her health, and volunteers ensured she remained hydrated and energized.

Global Recognition and Impact

On 13 June 2023, Guinness World Records officially confirmed her feat. The record not only showcased her personal determination but also projected Nigerian culinary culture onto the global stage, inspiring chefs and food enthusiasts across Africa and beyond.

Although Irish chef Alan Fisher later surpassed the record in November 2023, Hilda’s achievement remains a landmark in Nigeria’s cultural history and a source of national pride.

Legacy of Determination

Hilda Baci’s story exemplifies passion, cultural pride, and perseverance. From her Akwa Ibom roots to her rise as an international culinary figure, she has shown that hard work and vision can turn an individual dream into a global milestone—leaving an enduring mark on Nigeria’s food heritage.

Sources
Guinness World Records – “Nigerian chef Hilda Baci breaks longest cooking marathon record,” June 13, 2023

The Guardian Nigeria – “Nigeria celebrates Hilda Baci’s Guinness cooking record,” May 2023

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Lifestyle

THEY CAN RAISE ₦10 MILLION FOR YOUR FUNERAL — BUT CAN THEY FEED YOU WHILE YOU’RE ALIVE?

Published

7 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

This is a question society needs to confront.

When someone dies, people can suddenly find money for burial ceremonies, funeral arrangements and other expenses.

But while that same person was alive and struggling, where were the people who could have helped?

A person may be hungry today, unable to pay rent, struggling with medical bills or simply going through a difficult period — yet the support may only come when it is too late.

Why do we sometimes show more generosity to the dead than compassion to the living?

Helping someone while they are alive may not make headlines, but it can change a life.

Don’t wait for someone’s funeral before showing them that they mattered.

💬 What is your honest opinion? Why do people sometimes find it easier to contribute after someone dies than to help while they are alive?

#Newsbreak365 #Nigeria #Nigerians #Society #Humanity #Life #SocialIssues #Food #HelpingOthers #ThinkAboutIt

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Lifestyle

“DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” — THE SENTENCE THAT CAN EXPOSE NIGERIA’S POWER CULTURE

Published

20 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

STOP. READ THAT QUESTION AGAIN.

Why does having money, a famous surname, political connections or a convoy sometimes make some people feel they should receive a different kind of treatment?

“DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”

But here is the question many ordinary Nigerians are asking:

WHO ARE YOU—IF YOUR STATUS MAKES YOU FORGET THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?

A person can own mansions and still lack humility.

A person can drive the biggest SUV and still have no respect for the ordinary citizen.

A person can have powerful connections and still be accountable under the law.

A person can wear expensive clothes and still reveal their character by how they treat a security guard.

💰 MONEY CAN BUY COMFORT.
🚘 CONNECTIONS CAN OPEN DOORS.
👑 STATUS CAN ATTRACT ATTENTION.

But NONE OF THEM SHOULD MAKE ANYONE ABOVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

The real test of wealth is not how loudly you announce your status.

It is how you treat the person who cannot help you.

So perhaps Nigeria needs a new question:

🔥 NOT “DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”

But:

“DO YOU KNOW THAT I AM ACCOUNTABLE TOO?”

🇳🇬 NEWSBREAK365 ASKS:
Have you personally witnessed someone use money, influence or connections to demand special treatment?

What happened?

👇 Tell us your story. Let Nigerians discuss it.

#NewsBreak365 #Nigeria #Nigerians #Naija #PowerAndPrivilege #Accountability #Equality #Character #Justice #NigeriaToday #NewsAndPerspective

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Lifestyle

HUMANITY FIRST OR MONEY FIRST? — THE NIGERIAN QUESTION WE DON’T WANT TO ASK

Published

20 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

“In Europe and America, humanity comes first. In Nigeria, money comes first.”

It is a provocative statement—but for many Nigerians, it describes an uncomfortable experience.

In Nigeria, who you know can sometimes matter more than what you know.

No money? You may be ignored.
No connection? You may keep waiting.
No influence? Your problem may suddenly become “complicated.”

But when money enters the conversation, doors can open, phones can be answered, and attention can suddenly appear.

Is this the Nigeria we want?

We cannot blame politicians for everything. This problem can also appear in everyday life—when people demand money before doing their jobs, when connections replace fairness, or when someone’s social status determines how they are treated.

Yet Nigeria is also full of people who help strangers, support the vulnerable, give generously and show extraordinary compassion.

So perhaps the real question isn’t whether Nigerians are good or bad.

The question is:

🔥 HAVE WE BUILT A SOCIETY WHERE MONEY AND CONNECTIONS TOO OFTEN DETERMINE WHO GETS RESPECT, JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY?

Europe and America are not perfect. They have poverty, discrimination, corruption and inequality too.

But Nigeria can still ask itself a powerful question:

Can we build a country where being human is enough to deserve dignity?

💬 What do you think?

Is “money first” really a Nigerian reality—or is this an unfair stereotype?

👇 Tell us your experience.

Newsbreak365 | News • People • Perspectives

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