The Record-Breaking Nigerian Chef Ready to Take on the World

Hilda Baci’s journey from local eatery to Guinness World Records and global ambitions

At just 30, Hilda Baci has become one of Nigeria’s most recognizable chefs and entrepreneurs. A double Guinness World Record holder, she is unapologetically ambitious. When asked what drives her, she responds with a laugh: “My love for money and the good things in life.”

Born Akhonamathemba Bassey—later changing the spelling of her surname to Baci she thrives in the spotlight. But she makes a clear distinction: there’s Hilda the person, seen by her family and close circle, and Hilda the brand, a carefully curated image designed to build a culinary empire.

Building “My Food by Hilda”

Through her business, My Food by Hilda, she runs a popular Lagos restaurant, offers cookery classes, and provides private chef services. The brand’s digital footprint is massive, with over a million followers on Instagram plus another 3.2 million on her personal account.

Baci knows her influence comes with expectations. “It feels good to be an inspiration, but it comes with pressure,” she admits. Yet, she refuses to let that distract her from her ultimate goals.

Childhood Roots in Food

Hilda’s passion for food traces back to her childhood in Abuja, where her mother ran an eatery opposite the Ministry of Defence. After school, she would help out, loudly reciting the menu to customers in her sharp, spirited way. Tips flowed, and so did her love for serving people.

Though she once dreamed of being a lawyer, actress, or TV presenter, it was food—combined with entrepreneurial instinct that set her path.

First Taste of Fame

At university, she began cooking for clubs and organizations, later co-founding a food delivery business with her brother. Around the same time, she found work on television, presenting cooking segments that eventually led to her own show, “Dine on a Budget.”

Her big break came in 2023 when she staged a four-day nonstop cook-a-thon, cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes to break a Guinness World Record. Though the record was later surpassed, it catapulted her into national fame and inspired countless Nigerians.

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Breaking the Jollof Record

Earlier this month, she secured another Guinness title, cooking more than 8.7 tonnes of jollof rice in a custom-made pot. The feat wasn’t spontaneous it had been carefully planned for over a year. Like all her ventures, it was driven by a balance of passion, strategy, and branding.

Baci explains her approach: “I thought about the opportunity cost. How does it impact my business? What does this do for my brand?”

Style, Strength, and Self-Belief

Despite her relentless drive, Baci is grounded in faith and gratitude. She credits her mother for encouraging her to pursue entrepreneurship rather than a “safe” white-collar career, and as a devout Christian, she believes her work aligns with God’s plan for her life.

Still, being a young, successful woman comes with constant scrutiny. Social media often bombards her with questions about marriage. Her response is firm: “I’m a lover girl, but I won’t marry because society demands it. I’ll marry because I’m in love and happy.”

Building a Global Culinary Legacy

Looking ahead, Baci has global ambitions. She envisions opening outlets in the US, UK, Canada, and South Africa, positioning Nigerian cuisine on the same global stage as Chinese or Italian food.

She also hopes to introduce her signature coconut rice recipe to households worldwide, determined to make it as popular as her country’s beloved jollof.

“I want to build a legacy,” she says. “The kind of company that lasts 100 years.”

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