Today, September 20, marks a special celebration for Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, as she turns 30. The Nigerian chef, entrepreneur, and Guinness World Record holder is ringing in this milestone birthday at a time when she is also being recognized for yet another groundbreaking achievement.

Just days ago, Hilda secured a fresh Guinness World Record by cooking an incredible 8,780 kilograms of jollof rice at an event in Victoria Island, Lagos. The attempt, staged during the World Jollof Festival, lasted nine hours and has been confirmed as the largest quantity of jollof rice ever cooked at once. The massive meal was shared with attendees, turning the record-setting effort into a communal celebration of food and culture.

This is not her first taste of global recognition. In 2023, Hilda captured the world’s attention with her record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, clocking 93 hours and 11 minutes. Although that record was later broken, it made her a household name and showed the world the resilience, determination and creativity of Nigerian chefs.

Now at 30, Hilda continues to inspire a generation of food lovers and young entrepreneurs. Through her brand My Food by Hilda and her strong social media presence, she has built a platform that goes beyond recipes to highlight perseverance, innovation and the rich heritage of Nigerian cuisine. Fans, friends and colleagues have flooded social media with birthday wishes, celebrating both her new age and her continued success.

Happy 30th Birthday to Hilda Baci, a true trailblazer for Nigeria’s culinary industry.