Hilda Baci: Nigerian chef eyes cooking world record

A Nigerian chef has become a national sensation after cooking non-stop for more than 90 hours in an attempt to break the world record.

Hilda Baci has cooked over 100 different dishes since turning on her cooker at 15:00 GMT on Thursday.

The current record is 87 hours and 45 minutes set in Rewa, central India in 2019 by Indian chef Lata Tondon.

Though no officials of the organisation are at the venue in the upmarket area of Lekki in Lagos, CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the event.

Baci, 27, initially planned to cook for 96 hours - until 15:00GMT on Monday.

But the boisterous crowd that has camped outside the venue is egging her to hit the 100-hour mark.

She has produced thousands of portions of food, which are being handed out to invited guests.

She is allowed one assistant at a time, and can take a five-minute break each hour, or the equivalent over several hours.

The chef is showing visible signs of the physical exertion and is getting cold compresses on her head, and foot massages during her breaks. A medical assistant is also checking her vital signs.

Her attempt has captivated the country, with politicians and celebrities stopping by to cheer her on.

"This attempt is a proof of the strength young people can exhibit with the right platform and support," Ms Bassey told BBC News Pidgin.

Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was at the venue on Sunday, and she also received a call from Nigeria's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

"We are proud to have Hilda embarking on this journey in our state. I will continue to follow the updates and look forward to the final declaration," Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

Baci is no stranger to the heat of competitive kitchen events. In 2021 she defeated other contestants at the maiden edition of the "Jollof Faceoff", including a Ghanaian rival in the final, to claim the crown for West Africa's fiercely contested spicy rice meal.

She said her passion for cooking was inspired by her mother's culinary techniques and that her recipes were homemade.

Additional reporting by Adekola Olawale