Hilda Baci's record-breaking cook-a-thon made her Nigeria's most famous chef overnight
Hilda Baci is a Nigerian chef, restaurateur, and television personality who cooked nonstop for 93 hours and became a household name across Africa. Born Hilda Effiong Bassey, the Akwa Ibom-native went from helping her mother run a small restaurant in Abuja to holding three Guinness World Records, and she isn't done yet.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Hilda Baci is a Nigerian chef, restaurateur, actress, and three-time Guinness World Record holder from Akwa Ibom State
- She set the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual in May 2023, cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lagos
- In September 2025, she cooked 8,780 kg of jollof rice at Eko Hotels in Lagos, earning her second and third GWR titles
- She is engaged to music executive Damilola "Dapson" Akinwunmi, with hints of a 2026 wedding (#meetthedapsons26)
Profile summary
Full name | Hilda Effiong Bassey |
Famous as | Hilda Baci |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 20 September 1996 |
Age | 29 years (as of 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Libra |
Place of birth | Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria |
Current residence | Lagos, Nigeria |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Ethnicity | African |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet | 5'7'' |
Height in centimetres | 170 |
Weight in pounds | 176 |
Weight in kilograms | 80 |
Body measurements in inches | 35-28-37 |
Body measurements in centimetres | 89-71-94 |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Dark brown |
Mother | Lynda Ndukwe |
Father | Effiong Bassey Edem |
Siblings | 3 |
College | Madonna University |
Profession | Chef, restaurateur, entrepreneur, TV personality, influencer |
Net worth | $500,000 |
Social media |
Who is Hilda Baci?
Hilda Baci is a renowned Nigerian celebrity chef, restaurateur, and multiple Guinness World Record holder known for her marathon cooking feats. She gained global fame in May 2023 for a 93-hour 11-minute cook-a-thon and further solidified her culinary status by breaking records for the largest pot of jollof rice in 2025.
Source: Original
Hilda Baci's Guinness World Records
Hilda Baci's Guinness World Record tally stands at three, a number no other Nigerian chef can match.
The cook-a-thon: 93 hours and 11 minutes
On May 11, 2023, Hilda began her record-breaking cooking marathon at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos. Over four days, she cooked more than 100 pots of food from a 35-item menu, with each pot serving 30 to 35 people. She finished on May 15 with a final count of 93 hours and 11 minutes, smashing the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes set by Indian chef Lata Tondon in 2019.
She had aimed for 100 hours, but nearly seven hours were deducted because she exceeded the permitted rest break allowance early in the attempt.
The cook-a-thon turned into a national event. Guinness World Records officially certified the record on June 12, 2023, according to GWR. The achievement earned Hilda invitations to the GWR headquarters in London, where she received a warm reception, according to Legit.ng.
Then-President Muhammadu Buhari publicly commended her for "placing Nigeria in the global spotlight," according to Vanguard.
The record was surpassed on November 7, 2023, by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes at his restaurant in Matsue, Japan, according to CNN. Hilda congratulated him publicly.
Hilda Baci's jollof rice Guinness World Record
On September 12, 2025, Hilda Baci's jollof mission went massive: she cooked 8,780 kilograms (19,356 lb 9 oz) of jollof rice over nine hours at Eko Hotels in Victoria Island, Lagos. She partnered with Gino Nigeria for the massive attempt.
The ingredients included 4,000 kg of basmati rice, 164 kg of fresh goat meat, 220 kg of Gino Asun and peppered chicken cubes, and 600 kg of jollof pepper mix, all prepared in a six-metre-wide steel pot. The dish fed roughly 16,600 to 20,000 people.
Guinness World Records confirmed the feat on September 15, 2025, as the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice ever prepared. GWR's own headline asked:
"Did Hilda Baci just win the Jollof Wars for Nigeria?"
But that wasn't all, the same attempt also earned her a separate record for the largest serving of rice of any kind.
In January 2026, Hilda woke up to an email confirming she was now a three-time Guinness World Record holder. She wrote on social media.
"Woke up a three-time Guinness World Records holder and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it," She described being "shocked and happy at the same time, completely caught off guard."
On February 13, 2026, she received her third official GWR plaque,
The Jollof record had political backing too. The federal government under President Bola Tinubu expressed support for the attempt, and Akwa Ibom State's incoming First Lady also congratulated Hilda on the achievement.
How old is Hilda Baci?
Hilda Effiong Bassey was born on September 20, 1996, in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. She is 29 years old as of 2026.
Parents
Hilda Baci's father, Effiong Bassey Edem, is a cement dealer based in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. Her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, is an Igbo culinary entrepreneur who runs Calabar Pot, a well-known restaurant in Abuja. It was in that kitchen, after school hours, that a young Hilda first picked up cooking skills—stirring pots and watching her mother turn ingredients into meals for customers.
She has at least three siblings: an older brother named Gilbert, who graduated from Madonna University with a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering; a younger sister; and a younger brother born in October 2010.
Hilda Baci's parents' separation didn't stop the family from pushing forward. At the age of five, Hilda relocated to Abuja with her mother, where she continued her education and helped out in the restaurant business.
Education
Hilda attended primary school in Abuja after the family's relocation. For secondary school, she enrolled at Federal Government Girls College, Abaji, in the Federal Capital Territory. Former classmates recall her as outgoing and sociable -- the kind of student who stood out in a crowd.
After secondary school, she gained admission to Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State, where she studied Sociology from 2011 to 2015. The university would later celebrate her achievements: after her 2023 Guinness World Record, Madonna University offered Hilda a PhD-level scholarship, according to P.M. News.
Career
She is a professional chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur. She has been passionate about cooking since childhood. It all started with her cooking for her friends and family and sharing her recipes on social media. She later opened a catering business, Hilda's Kitchen, which she renamed My Food by Hilda.
She is an entrepreneur. Hilda is the CEO of My Food by Hilda restaurant, which is located in Lekki. The Nigerian chef has become popular with her unique and creative recipes. She is managed by Eggcorn Digital, an independent Creative Marketing agency in London and Lagos.
Hilda Baci is a television personality. Due to her fame for her culinary skills, she has secured jobs as a television host for cooking shows on various television platforms. For instance, she hosted Dine on a Budget television show on Pop Central TV.
She also worked as the lunch division manager for Breaking King, a breakfast company, where she gathered experience operating a culinary business. Her passion and determination made her break the Guinness World Record. On 13 June 2023, she was crowned the holder of the longest cooking marathon (individual) with a time of 93 hours and 11 minutes.
Hilda Bassey Effiong is an actress. According to her IMDb profile, she has two acting credits as of 2023. She has starred in A Walk on Water (2021) and Mr. & centre Robert (2023).
Nigerian fashion retailer MISKAY launched a collaborative fashion collection with Hilda. The Signature Collection, which debuted on March 14, 2026, at the MISKAY flagship store in Lekki, Lagos, features 15 styles designed for both daytime and evening wear, according to BellaNaija.
She also became a Scanfrost brand ambassador in October 2025.
Is Hilda Baci married?
Hilda Baci's husband-to-be is Damilola Akinwunmi, a music executive who goes by the name "Dapson." He is the founder of Dapper Group, an entertainment company.
The couple has been together for several years, sharing glimpses of their relationship on social media without making it the centre of attention. That changed in September 2025, when Hilda flaunted her engagement ring at her birthday party, according to Legit.ng. The celebration made it clear: Damilola had proposed.
Couple photos with the caption "Love that flows like an ocean #meetthedapsons26" have fuelled speculation that their wedding is planned for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hilda Baci's real name?
Hilda Baci's real name is Hilda Effiong Bassey. She adopted the stage name "Hilda Baci" for her culinary brand and public career. Some sources spell it "Hilda Bacci" with a double C, but the correct spelling is Hilda Baci.
What is Hilda Baci famous for?
Hilda Baci is famous for setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes in Lagos in May 2023. She later set two more records for the largest serving of jollof rice (8,780 kg) in September 2025, making her a three-time GWR holder.
What did Hilda Baci study in school?
Hilda Baci studied Sociology at Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State, graduating in 2015. She attended Federal Government Girls College, Abaji, Abuja, for her secondary education. Her culinary skills were self-taught, learned from her mother rather than from formal training.
How many siblings does Hilda Baci have?
Hilda Baci has at least three siblings: an older brother named Gilbert (a Madonna University graduate with a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering), a younger sister, and a younger brother born in October 2010.
Where is Hilda Baci from?
Hilda Baci is from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, in southeastern Nigeria. She is of the Ibibio ethnic group.
Does Hilda Baci have a boyfriend?
Hilda Baci is engaged to Damilola "Dapson" Akinwunmi, a music executive and founder of Dapper Group.
Does Hilda Baci still hold the cooking marathon record?
No. Hilda Baci's cooking marathon record of 93 hours and 11 minutes was broken on November 7, 2023, by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes at his restaurant in Matsue, Japan.
Hilda Baci is a chef, television personality, restaurateur, and social media personality from Nigeria. She is famous for her culinary skills, which she showcases on her social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube. She broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon in June 2023.
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