Nigerian celebrity chef and double Guinness World Record breaker Hilda Baci makes no secret about what drives her success.
[It's] my love for money and the good things in life, the 30-year-old says unabashedly, laughing on a call from Lagos.
Baci thrives in the limelight and embraces the glamour that comes with being her country's most celebrated culinary figure. She admits that there are two sides to her: the personal Hilda Baci, who is seen by her loved ones, and the brand Hilda Baci, which presents a carefully curated image.
I'm a businesswoman first, she states. Under her brand 'My Food by Hilda', which boasts over a million followers on Instagram, she manages a popular Lagos restaurant and also offers cooking classes and personal chef services.
Baci is an inspiration for many, though she admits it comes with pressure to maintain her status. A lot of people look to me for guidance and answers, but I don’t let that overwhelm me or distract from my goals, she explains.
Hilda's journey began in Calabar, Nigeria, where she helped out at her mother's eatery opposite the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. She soon discovered her talent for cooking, which led her to significant media opportunities, including her own television show.
In 2023, Hilda broke the record for the longest uninterrupted cooking session, completing a staggering 93 hours and 11 minutes. Although that record has since been surpassed, it sparked a wave of endurance challenges in Nigeria.
Most recently, she set a new world record by preparing over 8.7 tonnes of jollof rice in a single pot, emphasizing her goal to promote Nigerian cuisine globally.
Baci's success is calculated; she has meticulously planned her pursuits, including her latest jollof rice record, which she envisioned well over a year in advance. Originally aspiring to become a lawyer or an actress, Baci’s passion for cooking became her true calling as she embraced the culinary world.
While navigating societal expectations around marriage, she maintains focus on her career vision: creating a legacy for her brand, aspiring to open restaurants around the world, and elevating Nigerian dishes such as her signature coconut rice to international fame.
With her vibrant spirit and ambition, Hilda Baci continues to break stereotypes and pave a path for future generations in the culinary landscape.
