Hilda Baci has been named a GWR Icon by Guinness World Records. This recognition highlights the impact she has made on record-breaking culture worldwide and how she has inspired many Guinness World Records attempts in Nigeria.
She is the first Nigerian to receive this GWR Icon recognition.
The GWR Icon title is given by Guinness World Records to people or groups whose achievements go beyond just breaking records. These individuals leave a lasting impact on a global scale.
Baci is a holder of multiple Guinness World Records. She set the record for the longest individual cooking marathon in May 2023 and broke two mass-cooking records in September 2025.
In a video shared by Guinness World Records, she became emotional as she thought about her journey from her first record attempt to becoming a GWR Icon.
“I don’t know what to say… we started a movement. I did this. I don’t want to cry. It feels really good to know that things like this can happen to people like me,” she said.
Baci mentioned that even though she believed in her work, she did not expect such a huge impact.
“I had so much faith in what I was doing, I never saw how far it could go, I never saw how much impact it would make, I definitely did not think there would come a time I would not have one but three… and now being named a Guinness World Record Icon. I am so grateful to God. This is for Nigeria, this is for all of us.”
Guinness World Records explained that record titles often mean more than just breaking records. They can show a person’s self-belief, ambition and determination.
The organization shared Baci’s journey, starting from helping at her mother’s restaurant in Abuja while in primary school to becoming one of Nigeria’s top chefs.
After studying sociology, she tried her hands in television and acting before becoming a professional chef in 2020 and starting her restaurant business.
Guinness World Records noted that Baci’s cook-a-thon in Lagos from May 11 to 15, 2023, was a key moment. She cooked non-stop for 93 hours and 11 minutes, attracting many supporters and gaining global attention through livestreams.
Even though her record has been broken twice since then, Guinness said Baci’s achievement has left a lasting impression. They reported that within two months of her attempt, they received over 1,500 new applications from Nigeria, showing a rise in interest in record-breaking.
When asked what advice she would give to those wanting to set records, Baci highlighted the need for preparation.
“Preparation is everything. Passion alone is not enough,” she said. She added that challengers need physical training, mental conditioning, proper documentation, a strong support team and a clear understanding of Guinness World Records guidelines.
Baci returned to the record books in September 2025 when she teamed up with Gino Nigeria to create the largest serving of rice in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The record-breaking dish weighed 8,780 kilograms. It used 4,000 kilograms of basmati rice, 164 kilograms of fresh goat meat and about 600 kilograms of her special jollof pepper mix, shared in more than 16,600 portions.
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Consistency beats talent. Systems beat hustle. And humility keeps you growing.”
Looking ahead, Baci hopes to grow My Food by Hilda across Nigeria and internationally, including in the UK, the US, Dubai and South Africa. She wants to be a cultural ambassador for Nigerian cuisine.
She also said any future record attempt would need to serve a bigger purpose beyond just endurance.
“If my journey gave someone else the courage to attempt something bold, then that means more to me than the title itself,” she said. “Records can be broken, that’s their nature. But inspiration, the ripple effect of belief, is what truly lasts.”
This recognition shows how much influence Baci’s record-breaking achievements have had. They not only earned her multiple Guinness World Records titles but also ignited a nationwide interest in record attempts among Nigerians.
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