Nigerian celebrity chef and double Guinness World Record breaker Hilda Baci is redefining culinary fame and entrepreneurship in Africa with her relentless drive, strategic branding, and bold ambitions. Known for her magnetic personality and sharp business acumen, the 30-year-old chef has become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated public figures, blending her passion for food with an unshakable determination to put Nigerian cuisine on the global stage.
Born in Calabar but raised in Abuja, Baci discovered her love for food at an early age while helping her mother, who ran an eatery opposite Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence. She fondly recalls memorizing menus and serving customers as a spirited child, quickly realizing that food could be both a livelihood and a way to connect with people. This foundation planted the seeds of a culinary empire that she would later grow into the globally recognized brand, My Food by Hilda.
Baci first shot into the global spotlight in 2023 when she broke the Guinness World Record with her 93-hour-11-minute non-stop cook-a-thon. The marathon feat not only showcased her culinary endurance but also inspired a wave of similar challenges across Nigeria. Though her record was eventually surpassed, the event transformed her public profile and solidified her as a household name. Earlier this year, she set yet another Guinness World Record by preparing more than 8.7 tonnes of Nigeria’s most iconic dish—jollof rice—in a single massive pot, a feat that required months of planning and execution.
Beyond the records, Baci’s success is the product of deliberate branding and business strategy. She acknowledges that there are two sides to her identity: Hilda Baci the person, and Hilda Baci the brand. The brand is carefully curated, professional, and business-driven, while the person remains deeply connected to her family, faith, and personal values. With over a million followers on her business Instagram page and more than 3.2 million on her personal account, Baci has leveraged social media to expand her influence, market her restaurant in Lagos, and promote her cookery classes and private chef services.
Her path to success, however, was not straightforward. Baci once dreamed of becoming a lawyer, later studied sociology, and dabbled in acting and television presenting. It was her role on a breakfast show, where she hosted a cooking segment, that eventually steered her back to food. She began cooking for university organizations, running a food delivery service with her brother, and later hosting her own program, Dine on a Budget, where she interviewed celebrities while preparing affordable meals. Winning the Jollof Face-Off competition against a Ghanaian chef and pocketing $5,000 further propelled her into the spotlight.
The resilience and vision that define her brand are also rooted in her strong Christian faith. Baci openly credits God for her journey, believing that divine direction has guided her toward her true calling. She also acknowledges her mother’s influence, whose success as a food vendor in Abuja inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship rather than being confined to traditional office work.
Despite her achievements, Baci faces societal pressures, particularly questions about marriage. She frequently addresses the barrage of comments she receives on social media, where many insist her accomplishments are incomplete without a husband. Unfazed, she insists that her desire for marriage will only be on her own terms—with someone she loves—rather than to satisfy cultural expectations. Her focus remains on building her legacy, ensuring that her business and brand endure for generations.
Looking ahead, Baci envisions her culinary empire expanding across continents. She aspires to open restaurants in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and South Africa, aiming to make Nigerian cuisine as globally recognized as Chinese or Italian food. While jollof rice has already become an international cultural symbol, Baci is also eager to introduce her signature coconut rice recipe to global audiences, hoping to see it adopted into households worldwide.
Through her fearless personality, dedication to excellence, and strategic branding, Hilda Baci has transformed from a little girl helping at her mother’s canteen to a global culinary icon and symbol of Nigerian pride. Her journey is not only about breaking records but also about breaking boundaries pushing Nigerian cuisine onto the global map and inspiring millions of women and young entrepreneurs to chase their dreams with passion and determination.
With her unwavering ambition, faith, and flair for the spotlight, Hilda Baci is not just building a brand; she is crafting a lasting legacy that has the potential to influence the global food industry for decades to come.
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