Gov. Sanwo-Olu surprises Chef Hilda Baci at cooking contest venue (Video)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a surprise appearance at Amore Gardens in Lekki on Sunday to motivate and celebrate Hilda Baci, a young talented chef from Lagos.
Hilda is currently participating in the Longest Cook-a-thon contest with the aim of breaking the Guinness World Record previously set by Indian chef Lata Tondon, who cooked for 86 consecutive hours.
Hilda, who hails from Akwa Ibom and owns the My Food My Hilda Restaurant in Lekki, has been nurturing her dream to participate in the food contest for five years. She aims to surpass the current cooking time and become a Guinness World Record holder.
When Governor Sanwo-Olu arrived, Hilda had already been cooking for 68 hours.
The Governor’s unexpected presence generated excitement among the crowd of youths gathered at the garden.
Notable Nigerians, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have also called and cheered Hilda from various walks of life.
Hilda’s mother, Mrs. Lynda Brown, and some family members were present at the event to show their support.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made a brief visit to the kitchen to avoid disrupting the flow of the event. During a conversation with the Governor, Hilda offered a taste of some of the delicacies she had prepared, including Akwa Ibom’s traditional Edika Ikong and Egusi soup.
The Governor witnessed the moment Hilda reached the 69th hour mark in the kitchen, which occurred at exactly 1 pm on Sunday. The entire show was broadcasted live across social media platforms.
Addressing the crowd, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his purpose for being there, stating, “My presence here is to encourage a young talented citizen who has been making all of us proud. You can see the Nigerian spirit emanating from her—an enduring spirit that Lagos is known for. We can also feel the Akwa Ibom spirit.”
“Hilda is a great inspiration and motivator, embodying the values of our country. I wish her the strength and courage to finish well and break the global record. After making history with the largest cupcakes, we are expecting another first for our country and state,” the Governor added.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged youths from across the country who have been supporting Hilda on social media not to relent in sending their wishes, emphasizing that breaking the global record would be a collective victory.
As of the time of this report, Chef Hilda had already cooked over 100 different meals, which were served freely to over 4,000 youths who attended the dinner at the garden.
The show is expected to conclude at 4 pm on Monday, when Hilda would have set a new global record.
Watch the video below:
