Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef known for breaking multiple Guinness World Records, attributes her success to a strong desire for financial stability and a penchant for the finer things in life. At 30, she has developed a dual persona—one that her family knows and another that the public sees as a carefully curated brand. Baci emphasizes the importance of her business in her life, stating that her entrepreneurial spirit drives her success.
Under her brand, My Food by Hilda, which boasts over a million followers on Instagram, Baci operates a popular restaurant in Lagos and offers culinary classes and private chef services. Her prominence grew significantly after a four-day cook-a-thon in 2023, where she set a record for continuous cooking, inspiring a wave of endurance challenges in Nigeria. More recently, she established another record by cooking over 8.7 tonnes of jollof rice in a single pot.
These achievements are not merely coincidental; they stem from careful planning and a strategic approach to brand growth. Baci began considering her jollof rice record more than a year in advance and weighed the potential impacts on her business. Despite her success, she did not initially envision a career in cooking, having aspired to be a lawyer or a television presenter before discovering her culinary talent while helping in her mother’s eatery.
Baci often faces societal pressures regarding marriage, particularly in a culture where marital status is heavily emphasized. While she expresses a desire for marriage, she asserts that it is not a priority dictated by societal norms. Instead, her focus remains on building a legacy for her business, with plans to expand internationally and promote Nigerian cuisine globally, particularly her signature coconut rice recipe.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl50yrgpj7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss