Guinness World Records honours chef Hilda Baci as 2027 icon

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

Guinness World Records (GWR) has named Nigerian chef and restaurateur Hilda Baci as its Icon for 2027, in recognition of her record-breaking achievements and global influence.

The GWR Icon title celebrates individuals whose accomplishments go beyond record-setting to create lasting inspiration and impact worldwide.

Baci is a triple Guinness World Records holder, first gaining global attention in May 2023 after completing a 93-hour and 11-minute cooking marathon in Lagos.

She later partnered with Gino Nigeria in September 2025 to prepare the largest serving pot of rice, weighing 8,780 kilograms and distributed in over 16,600 portions.

Although Baci described her third record as unintentional, she also set a milestone for the largest portion of food shared during the same project.

Guinness World Records described her 2023 cook-a-thon as a defining moment that attracted thousands of supporters on-site and global attention through livestreams.

The organisation said her achievement sparked widespread interest in record attempts, with more than 1,500 applications submitted from Nigeria within two months.

Reacting to the honour, Baci dedicated the recognition to Nigeria, saying her journey has always been about inspiring others to dream boldly and believe in their potential. “If my journey gave someone else the courage to attempt something bold, then that means more to me than the title itself,” she said.