There’s something in the air in Nigeria and all the youths seem to be catching it. it’s the scent of greatness and uniqueness. Nigerians have officially entered their Guinness World Record era, and they are not slowing down! At this point, it’s becoming a cultural identity.
From food to fashion, sports to endurance, Nigerians are out here proving that they deserve recognition as much as everyone else and they don’t just deserve it because they are Nigerians but because despite the economic challenges of the country and the fact that it is a “third world nation”, Nigerians are out here on the global stage, shattering ceilings, breaking records and setting new records, showing resilience, dedication and doggedness, proving time and time again that Nigerians deserve all the accolades they receive.
It’s one thing to break records when everything is perfect, when the government is handing out grants, and investors are fighting to sponsor you. But when you’re doing it in a country where electricity is unreliable, funds are unattainable, and every achievement is a struggle, it’s a whole different level of dedication. Nigeria’s economy is not exactly a dream one. Inflation is steady on the rise, cost of living is almost killing the living, exchange rate is exchanging peace for sleepless nights, rising faster than the sun, and surviving in this economy? A full-time job on its own.
Yet, in the midst of all this, Nigerians are out here breaking Guinness World Records like it’s a national sport. Cooking for days, walking record-breaking runways, skipping, sewing, singing, and even traveling across continents at record speed. If this doesn’t scream resilience, I don’t know what does.
This record-breaking wave isn’t just about personal achievement, it’s bigger than that. This record-breaking spree is about redefining the Nigerian identity, changing global perceptions, inspiring millions, and even shifting the economy in unexpected ways.
And to think it all started with one determined chef, Hilda Bacci, who turned a simple kitchen hustle into a global sensation. But since then? Nigerians have been smashing records like jollof rice at a wedding reception. Some are already certified, some are still under review, and some are ongoing, but one thing is clear; Nigeria is officially the world record capital of Africa!
So grab a glass of chilled Chapman, because this gist is premium! Let’s get into all the amazing Nigerians who have broken Guinness World Records since Hilda Bacci, including the ones currently on the verge of making history. Before we start, we’d like to issue a warning: This list will make you feel like you need to start breaking a record too!
Hilda Baci – The Chef That Started It All!
If you didn’t hear about Hilda Baci’s cook-a-thon, were you even on the internet in 2023? This 27-year-old Nigerian chef from Akwa Ibom did what many thought was impossible, she cooked for 100 hours straight! Hilda Baci didn’t just cook for 100 hours, she fed an entire nation in the process!
Her goal was simple: Put Nigerian cuisine on the global map! And did she succeed? Absolutely. She ended up setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, clocking in at 93 hours and 11 minutes surpassing the previous record of 87 hours 45 minutes. Though she originally aimed for 100 hours, some deductions were made by Guinness World Record, but honestly? In our hearts, she did the full 100.
The impact? Lagos shut down. Celebrities pulled up. The internet exploded. And most importantly? Nigerians caught the “record-breaking fever.” The attention of the world was practically dragged to Lagos, Nigeria, to this one chef. Trust Nigerians and their way of making a statement, the former holder of the title, Lata Tondon got tagged to Hilda’s attempt at the time, until she dropped a goodwill message. The Indian chef was the first woman in the world to hold the record and the first female chef to enter the Guinness World Record. Lata Tondon broke the record with a non-stop cooking record time of 87hrs 45minutes.
After Hilda Bacci broke her record, Nigerians started attempting all sorts of records, some recognized, some still waiting for confirmation. Other chefs entered the chat. Chef Damilola Adeparusi (Chef Dammy) pushed for 120 hours and Chef Adeola Adeyeye turned it up to 150 hours. Even though these attempts weren’t officially recognized, they showed that Nigerians had caught the record-breaking bug, and that was just the beginning.
Blaqk Stereo Music Group – The Music MakersIn the same year, a group of 15 Nigerian musicians, led by Hawwal Emmanuel, set the record for the longest music recording marathon. A mind-blowing 40 hours and 19 seconds of non-stop music. Imagine being in a studio for almost two days straight, no breaks, no sleep, just straight vibes and hits. Forget studio sessions, these guys went beast mode!
Tonye Solomon – The Human Balance BoardHow do you make climbing stairs harder? Try doing it while balancing a football on your head! That’s exactly what Bayelsa-born Tonye Solomon did when he defied gravity and climbed 150 steps on a ladder without dropping the ball. Some people struggle to climb stairs normally, but Tonye Solomon? Balanced a football on his head while doing it. This guy’s balance is so elite, even gravity had to respect him. Word on the street? Tonye balances his finances with the same grit.And in 2023 again, another Nigerian, Tonye Solomon broke the Guinness World Record for Most Steps Climbed on a Ladder While Balancing a Football on the Head. No hands. No assistance. Just pure skill, core strength, endurance and an elite sense of balance. Everything about this screams legendary!
Clara Chizoba Kronborg – The Interview Marathon Queen
If you think you can talk for long, try doing 55 hours 24 seconds of continuous interviews! That’s exactly what Clara did, securing her spot in the Guinness World Records as the queen of interviews. This woman sat down and conducted interviews non-stop for 55 hours and 24 seconds. That’s over two full days of talking. No awkward silences. No lost voices. Just vibes. The amount of talking she did? Even your talkative aunties at family meetings can’t compete.
Philip Solomon – The Human Skipping Machine
Philip Solomon from Ondo State skipped his way into history when he completed 153 skips on one foot in just 30 seconds! If you’ve ever jumped ropes, you know how insane that is. This guy has unmatched skipping skills for days, with his feet faster than your internet speed. Talk about quick feet.
Rema – Afrobeats to the World!
In 2023, still on the record breaking trail, afrobeats superstar, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, set a Guinness World Record when his hit song “Calm Down” became the first African track to top the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) chart. Next time you hear Rema sing “Another banger!” believe him, because this one made history! Afrobeats is still on world domination mode.
Gbenga Ezekiel – The Bicycle King
Some persons don’t even know how to ride a bicycle but Gbenga Ezekial? He set a world record for the longest distance covered while doing a bicycle wheelie. Whew! Imagine pedaling and balancing on just one wheel for an insane distance. Even stunt riders would be proud. If you’ve ever tried riding a bicycle, you already know, balancing on one wheel for that long is superhuman.
Chukwuebuka Ezugha – The Freestyle Football God
When it comes to football skills, this guy is a magician! Freestyle footballer Chukwuebuka Ezugha holds multiple records for football juggling, touches, ball control, freestyle tricks and football tricks. Messi and Ronaldo may be great, but can they do what Chukwuebuka does? I don’t think so! At this point, we might need to check if Nigerians have some kind of hidden athletic gene.
Tunde Onakoya – The Chess Marathon Champion
From Ikorodu, Lagos, to the world, Tunde Onakoya earned himself the title ‘Chess Master’ when he was ranked the 13th chess player in Nigeria in 2016, with a FIDE rating of 2197.
He is not just a master at chess but a social reformer, picking up kids from the slums and giving them a world domination skill set through his non-profit, ‘Chess in Slums’.
In April 2024, at New York’s Times Square, Tunde Onakoya set a new record for the longest chess marathon, playing nonstop for 60 hours. His goal was simple, to raise awareness and funds for underprivileged children’s education, and that he did, with a brain sharper than a tailor’s scissors edges. Tunde Onakoya became the Guinness World Record Holder for a Chess Marathon, beating the previous time record of 56hours 9minutes, checkmate!
Helen Williams – The Queen of Wigs
Forget the regular 18-inch bone-straight wigs, Helen Williams is out here making history! This Lagos-based wig maker took things to another level with not one, not two, but three Guinness World Records! She literally turned wig-making into a Guinness World Record event! The hair industry? Officially shook.
· Longest Handmade Wig: 351.28 meters (longer than three football fields!)
· Widest Wig: 3.65 meters (wider than a Mini Cooper!)
· Fastest Time to Apply 90 Hair Clips to a Wig
Fola David – The Artistic Doctor
Who says doctors can’t have other skills? For decades un-end, Doctors have been known for just ‘saving lives’. Well for this doctor, he saves memories in art forms, and drawing is not just a hobby, it’s a passion that he went ahead to prove when he broke the Guinness World Record for the Largest artwork by an individual measuring a distance of 1,004.7 square meters.
Dr. Adefemi Gbadamosi, famously known as Fola David broke the Guiness World Record with a 1,004.7 square meters drawing of the map of Nigeria and the different tribes represented in drawn individuals dressed to represent a tribe in Nigeria. Fola David titled this masterpiece as “The Unity of Diversity”, celebrating Nigeria’s rich culture.
Ololade Ayelabola – Longest Runway Walk
After facing several challenges in the modeling industry, with issues particularly relating to her height, Ololade Ayelabola made a statement to the fashion industry that height should never be a barrier, when she catwalked non-stop for over four days, breaking the Guinness World Record for the Longest Distance Walked on a Runway. This Nigerian 5feet 10inches tall model walked a distance of 125.11 km surpassing the previous record of 125.11km. Some of us can’t even walk 5km without complaining. This is pure dedication to her craft. Talk about never taking ‘No’ for an answer.
It is often said, ‘anywhere you do not find a Nigerian, do not stay there’. Nigerians have proven time and time again that they cannot be stopped, not by the rising exchange rate, nor by the diminishing cost of living, Nigerians are always determined to stand out and break a record. At this rate, Nigerians might just break a record for “most records broken in a single country.”
From food to sports, fashion to endurance, music to chess, Nigerians are breaking records like it’s a birthright and we can’t wait to see which Nigerian breaks what Guinness World Record next.
