Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, made headlines with her attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the “longest cooking marathon by an individual.” She embarked on a four-day cook-a-thon at Amore Gardens in Lekki, attracting attention from the media and social media users. Baci’s Instagram following grew significantly during this period. She exceeded her initial target of 96 hours and extended her cooking marathon to 100 hours, surpassing the current record holder from India.
Prominent figures such as former president Muhammadu Buhari, former VP Yemi Osinbajo, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Baci on her attempt. However, two weeks after her cooking marathon, the Guinness World Records is yet to confirm her record. Although Baci submitted all the required evidence, the record body is still reviewing it.
Expressing her anxiety, Baci shared her frustration about the delay on Instastory, revealing that she has been eagerly awaiting the Guinness World Records’ certification email. Nigerian dancer Kaffy, who holds a Guinness World Record herself, predicted that the verification process might take some time based on her own experience.
The delay in confirming Baci’s record has led to criticism of the Guinness World Records on social media, with some questioning the length of time it takes for them to review submitted attempts. However, it should be noted that the Guinness World Records generally takes around 12 weeks to review and confirm records.