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In a matter of few hours, Nigerian chef and entrepreneur, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, would have broken the Guinness World Record for the “longest cooking marathon by an individual”.
Hilda Baci hit the 85-hour mark on Monday morning, with less than 3 hours remaining to set a new world record.
She started her cooking for the competition on Thursday at exactly 4 pm after she turned on her cooker.
She will be breaking the record initially set by Lata Tondon, an Indian chef who made the feat in 2019.
The event, which is taking place at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos, is being live-streamed on YouTube, and several celebrities, including Nigerians who have defied rain physically cheering up the visibly tired chef.
As of Sunday, the chef had hit the three-day mark amid cheers from popular celebrities and politicians.
The cook-a-thon’s Instagram account, @hildabacicookathon revealed that the event is headline sponsored by GB Foods. Other sponsors include Arla Foods, BaigeWallet, Filmhouse, Jumbo, Uber and Woodscop
The Cookathon has garnered attention both online and at the physical venue where celebrities are trooping in to support the chef.
Nollywood actor, Charles Okocha; actress, Kate Henshaw; singer, Tiwa Savage; media personality, Enioluwa, and many others appeared at the event.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also visited the venue on Sunday to cheer up Baci.
Filmmaker, Kevin Adetiba, wrote on Twitter, “REALLY rooting for HILDA BACHI. Don’t know her personally, but her drive, ambition and resilience, inspire and motivate me IMMENSELY.
“Sending her prayers and the best vibes to PUSH THROUGH. She’s inspiring people she doesn’t even know. GO HILDA… YOU GOT THIS!!!”
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, also lauded Baci for her “determination and focus.”
“The efforts being made by Hilda Effiong Bassey (Hilda Baci) to beat the current Guinness World Record for cooking for 4 days nonstop shows the true Nigerian spirit of hard work and resilience. I applaud her determination and focus on the goal, which is inspiring many Nigerian youths to live their dreams through hard work and dedication.
“I wish her well on this noble journey to pen her name in the golden book of history. -PO,” he tweeted on Sunday.
This is not the first time she is making giant strides in cooking competition, she participated in the maiden edition of the Jollof Face-off Competition in 2021 where she emerged winner with a sum of grand prize of $5000.
Although it’s on record that there is no official grand prize attached for breaking winning on Guinness Book of Records but the feat will open her up for endorsement opportunies from brands across the globe.