During the Nigerian Gastronomy Festival Gala Night held in Abuja, Hilda Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, who holds the World Guinness Record for the longest cooking marathon, reaffirmed her commitment to promoting Nigeria as a significant player in global culinary tourism. Baci emphasized that with support from the government, Nigeria has the potential to establish a dominant presence in the global culinary industry.
Baci believes that by giving due attention and support, the food industry in Nigeria can generate substantial revenue for the nation, comparable to the revenue generated by the oil industry. She expressed her optimism that with proper development and encouragement, the food industry can become a significant economic contributor to Nigeria.
In her efforts to highlight Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage and attract international visitors, Baci aims to leverage her expertise and accomplishments in the culinary field. By promoting local talent and raising awareness about the diverse food culture of Nigeria, she seeks to contribute to the growth and recognition of the country’s food industry.
“Like I always say, the food industry is like the oil industry.
“Nigeria is definitely going to be the destination for food tourism, give it another five years, we are already on our way to greatness.
“With everything happening now, giving opportunity to people to express themselves with food and hospitality, it is a beautiful development in taking us to that enviable height.
“In my own little or big way, I will keep putting in the effort to put Nigerian cuisines on the map to drive more positive attention to Nigeria as a whole, just let people know what we have and are capable of,” she said.
