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…Calls on Nigerian Youths To Explore Their Talents
By Our Reporter
The doggedness, resilience and courage exhibited by the Nigerian Number One Chef, Hilda Bassey Effiong (popularly known as Hilda Baci) have been applauded by prominent Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.
The latest came from Princess (Dr.) Victoria Ibokette, the President, Princess Victoria Ibokette Foundation. Princess Ibokette made this commendation in Abuja while exchanging views with newsmen recently. She said that the ‘I can do spirit of Akwa Ibomites’ propelled Hilda to achieve such a great height, “I see tenacity, courage, the 
strength of character, resilience, doggedness and the I can do spirit of Akwa Ibom in Hilda. For her to stand for four consecutive days cooking proves that Akwa Ibomites and indeed, Nigerians are strong and resolute. I see Hilda going outside the shore of Nigeria, already, with the Guinness Book of World Records, she is in international space and of course, the sky, will not even be her limit. She is proudly, an Iman Ibom, total Ibibio Lady from Nsit Ubium local government area”.
The Akwa Ibom-based security expert whose foundation has empowered thousands of Akwa Ibom people added that it has always been her sincere desire to see young people at the top getting engaged in different fields of endeavour for self-sustenance. She thanked the sponsors of Hilda for staking so much to take her to the top, “I want to appreciate GB Food; Gino tomatoes paste, Ginomax and Bama. Others such as Woodscope, Amore Gardens, Vendease, AfriGlobal, Uber, Arla Foods, CWAY, Filmhouse, ORIKI, PowerOil, Slum2school and Festus Fajemilo Foundation for sponsoring this resolute Nigerian and bringing her to stardom”.
“Cooking over 110 meals, using various local and intercontinental recipes to put Nigeria on the global culinary map to break the record set by an Indian Chef Lata Tondon in 2019 of 87 hours and 45 minutes, Hilda surpassed the record for cooking for 96 hours, with extra 9 hours. It is on record that Hilda has represented Nigeria at the Jollof Faceoff Competition in 2021 where she emerged the winner”.
“Already, Guinness World Records has acknowledged the effort of Hilda, describing it as an ‘amazing record attempt’, they said that after the review, they will ‘officially confirm it’, Princess Ibokette added.
Dr. Ibokette described it as a testament of acceptance as top Nigerians paid a visit to Hilda during the cook-a-Thon, “the visit of Nigerian celebrity and top politicians such as Tiwa Savage, Banky and Adesua Wellington, Teni the entertainer, Spyro, Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu, Senator Godswill Akpabio on her among others, was a testament of acceptance. We are also aware that a leading airline in the country, Dana Air has offered her a one-year free ticket for all her domestic travels”.
She praised the cooking prowess, which according to her, Akwa Ibom people are known for, called on other Nigerian youths to brace for the 21st Century challenge of self-worth and determination and rise to the top irrespective of their present situation, “Hilda harnessed home skills, translate to passion and transform to wealth when it comes to good food in particular and cooking in general, Akwa Ibom is the home and is still top on the board. I invite people to visit Akwa Ibom and have a taste of local, national as well as intercontinental cuisine prepared in our state, which Hilda has proved to the whole world”.
