Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The certificate was presented in the Governor's office at Government House, Uyo, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Hilda Baci, the chef who cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes in 2023 and went on to set two more Guinness World Records, had come home to Akwa Ibom. Governor Umo Eno received her with the kind of enthusiasm reserved for a returning champion, and for good reason. In a state that has produced its share of national figures but rarely commands global headlines for the right reasons, Baci's achievements have given Akwa Ibom a different kind of visibility.
Eno did not hide his admiration. "I want to specially commend our very own, Hilda Baci, for her bold and adventurous spirit, which has contributed to her world record-breaking achievements and have brought honour to the State," he said. He described her success story as proof that determination and courage could enable individuals to break barriers and achieve remarkable feats. "You have made us proud in this state. You have made the world to know that determination and courage can help individuals to break barriers and achieve remarkable feats," the governor said, urging her to continue flying the state's flag higher.
Baci, whose full name is Hilda Effiong Bassey, is an indigene of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. Her rise from a relatively unknown chef to a global phenomenon began in May 2023 when she set the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, surpassing the previous mark held by Lata Tondon of India. The effort drew millions of viewers online and turned her into a national sensation. She did not stop there. In September 2025, she set another record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kilograms. In January 2026, Guinness World Records confirmed her as a three-time record holder. By June 2026, she had been recognised as a Guinness World Records Icon, the first African human to receive that honour. The recognition placed her in a category reserved for individuals whose accomplishments transcend records to influence culture and inspire communities.
During her meeting with the governor, Baci did not focus solely on her own achievements. She praised the pace of infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom, describing the state as "amazingly beautiful." She expressed particular delight at the facilities at the Victor Attah International Airport, which she described as "first-rate and impressive." "I want to use this opportunity to commend and appreciate our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his vision and leadership style that has made Akwa Ibom amazingly beautiful," she said. She also lauded the hospitality and industrious nature of Akwa Ibom people and pledged to partner with relevant stakeholders to support the state's development.
The chef urged tourists and investors to visit Akwa Ibom to explore its environmental, recreational, hospitality and other investment opportunities. "This is a state tourists and investors can visit and explore its environmental, recreational, hospitality and other investment opportunities to help businesses maximise their potential," she said. She further called on the people of the state to continue to promote love, unity and peace as a means of attracting sustainable development. The visit comes as the Eno administration seeks to position tourism and hospitality as sectors capable of attracting visitors and investment to the state.
Among those present at the meeting were the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki; Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong; Secretary to the State Government, Enobong Uwah; Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Adviser, Aniefiok Johnson; House Majority Leader, Otobong Bob; Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Anieti Udofia; State Hotels and Tourism Board Chairman, Ime Udo; Delivery Adviser on Tourism, Charles Udoh; and other state officials.
The meeting was more than a photo opportunity. It was a signal that the Eno administration sees value in associating itself with a success story that transcends the kitchen. Baci's journey from Akwa Ibom to the global stage is a narrative that the state can use to promote its image, attract investment, and inspire young people. The governor's decision to receive her at Government House and publicly commend her is part of a broader strategy to project Akwa Ibom as a state of opportunity rather than a footnote in Nigeria's economic geography. Whether that strategy yields tangible results in tourism, investment and youth empowerment remains to be seen, but for one afternoon in Uyo, the spotlight was on a chef who refused to be limited by her circumstances and a governor who wants to claim a share of her shine.
For Baci, the visit was a homecoming. She left Akwa Ibom as a young woman with a dream and returned as a three-time Guinness World Record holder, a global icon, and a source of pride for a state that does not often find itself in the international spotlight. Her message to the people of Akwa Ibom was simple: love, unity and peace are the foundations of sustainable development. And her message to the world was equally clear: Akwa Ibom is open for business, and it has something to offer.
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