Hilda Effiong Bassey, well and popularly known as Hilda Baci, is a Nigeria’s cooking star, a businesswoman, and social media vibe who’s all about showing off Naija food. Born September 20, 1996, in Nsit Ubium, Akwa Ibom State, this 29-year-old has won hearts with her kitchen skills and big smile. From her small-town roots to breaking a Guinness World Record in 2023 for the longest cooking time by one person, Hilda’s story is pure Naija hustle, proving you can turn love for food into global fame.
Hilda grew up in Akwa Ibom, where food was life. Her mum, Lynda Ndukwe, ran Calabar Pot restaurant, and little Hilda was always in the kitchen, helping with one thing or another. “Mum’s place was where I fell in love with cooking,” she said in one of her interviews with her face full of smiles. Those days taught her that food isn’t just for eating but also brings people together.
EDUCATION
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Hilda’s education and early experiences significantly shaped her path in the culinary world. She went to Madonna University in Okija, Anambra State, bagging a sociology degree. After school, she tried office work, but her heart was in the kitchen. She pursued a formal culinary education to sharpen her skills, and started Hilda’s Kitchen, later rebranded as My Food by Hilda, a Lagos-based catering business that mixes Naija dishes with modern twists. Her Instagram (@hildabaci) is a feast for the eyes, with over 2.9 million fans drooling over her recipes and tips.
RISE TO FAME
In 2020, Hilda hit the big time hosting Dine on a Budget on Pop Central TV. The show, teaching people how to make tasty Naija meals on a low budget, was a hit. People loved her vibe and easy tutorials for dishes like yam porridge. In 2021, she entered the Jollof Face-Off, a Nigeria vs. Ghana cook-off, and won $5,000 with her banging jollof, making Naija proud. Her biggest moment came in 2023 when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes straight in Lekki, Lagos, from May 11 to 15. She made over 100 dishes, feeding thousands, with fans and celebs cheering her on. Social media went crazy with #HildaBaciCookathon. “God kept me going,” she said, laughing through the stress.
RECENT ACTIVITIES AND LEGACY
Just last week, on September 12, 2025, Hilda lit up Lagos again at the Gino World Jollof Festival in Eko Hotels. She led her team to cook Nigeria’s biggest jollof rice pot ever; using 4,000kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, and 168kg of goat meat in a massive 23,000-liter pot. Over 20,000 people came, and Guinness tweeted support. The pot had a weighing hiccup, but no food spilled. Thousands ate her spicy Jollof rice till midnight on September 13, and her team sent video proof for Guinness to check. From Akwa Ibom to world stages, Hilda’s hustle is real. A chef, actress in Dream Chaser, and food boss, she’s keeping Naija’s food scene hot.
In summary, Hilda Baci’s rise from Akwa Ibom’s kitchens to global fame is all about passion and Naija spirit. Her record-breaking cookathon and massive jollof feat show her love for our culture. As she keeps cooking, acting, and inspiring, Hilda’s proving dreams come true with hard work.
