By Ekomobong Peter 

This is what I term Hildarization of opportunity at Bacilica of holy cookathon, Lagos 2023

Hilda Baci’s quest to break records is buzzing the world. Arguably, no platform of communication and social interaction is spared.

Hilda Baci themed her cooking marathon “Cookathon”.

She has passed 60 hours, this Sunday afternoon. On her way to 90, smashing the 87 hours record held by the Indian, Lata Tondon.

Lagos is not just a state. It is Nigeria’s Basilica of Commerce, Trade, Entertainment, Media, Religion etcetera, and it shares some hegemony of political power with Abuja, Nigeria’s official seat of power and authority. (This is a subject for another day)

Those who seek visibility and profit go there. Those who live there, take advantage of what it offers. It offers strength , unity despite the foraging of diversity. It offers class and mobility. Hope and dispare. It’s the fulcrum of antiquity and modernity.

Hilda Baci, though from Akwa Ibom State, specifically a local government called Nsit Ubium, in the oil rich Niger Delta, lives all her 27 years with her mother in Lagos, perhaps inspired to stunned the world with little lessons she learned from her mom – a chef- a similarity she shares with her mother, from where she is already creating a dissimilar world with her heroin of the culinary industry.

Hilda’s differentiation with her mother’s, spark from the reality of her youth, exposures to trend and culture and mediation which modern technology grants. Madam Baci while urging her daughter never to give up, says “you can do this for me” … ‘I am celebrated because of you”…

Through the media, Hilda, is breaking the hard shell of obscurity that defines the old era to a new era of prominence, industry zest and community solidarity that defies political, cultural, gender and social construct.

The crowd that cheers her on since she began on Thursday, are not exclusively Akwa Ibom. Neither are Southerners suspicious of Northerners. Religion or religiousity which easily divides Nigeria is defeated.

Hilda’s magical opium is excellence, laced with determination to win for herself and country.

She is already exposing Nigeria’s artistry, scenery, talent, tenacity and communality to the world. She previously shoved her Ghanian competitor to winning Jollof rice cooking competition

Hilda is not just a Chef, she is a global stage , those who understands trends are catching up. Political Class, entertainers, media community, and big brands are jostling for the Hilda’s to communicate affection, provide solution – health and fitness – like the Yogas, entertainment as the kids from Britain Got Talent, and the spicing from the affectionate cultural troupe giving further exposure to Hilda’s identity – Akwa Ibom State.

Nigeria’s political caucuses are smart. They are often demystified by their wonton recipe for fraud and nepotism. Free of this malady. You can often share your life with them.

Asiwaju Tinubu, Nigeria’s President Elect and former Governor of Lagos, though on trips overseas ahead of his Inauguration on May 29 (14 days away) , catches on the trending Slang IDAN to solidarize with Hilda Baci, a member of a significant demographic that attempted to steer Nigeria’s political ship away from the anchorage of the established order which Bola Tinubu is a Numero Uno amongst others.

In a tweet, JAGABAN as he is popularly called, charges Hilda Baci to go ahead and win the Guinness Book of Record, saying “IDAN doesn’t break, she breaks records. We are rooting for you, Hilda”.

Atiku Abubakar former Nigeria’s Vice President and Tinubu’s main contender in the 2023 Presidential election, took to his Facebook page to hype the Chef. “We see you,Chef Hilda, standing at the crossroads of history, ready to carve your name in the annals of world records”.

The host Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu hasn’t spared the glitz. He unlike the leaders earlier mentioned, ceased the stage to visit the Chef to bolster her to what many across the country see as irreversible victory for the 27 year old graduate whose preoccupation is culinary.

Also messages from Baci’s home state Akwa Ibom, reverberate across convergence of Media channels. A release by Governor Udom Emmanuel, signed by Ini Ememobong Commissioner for Information and Strategy, directs the Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Orman Esin to visit and convey his goodwill and the support of the state to Hilda whom he calls “the star girl” for placing the state; her delicacies on the international culinary map”,

There is no end to this global celebration which ends tomorrow as the clock ticks to the expected benchmark of 90 hours of multiple cooking, churning assorted dishes for four days, with few minutes break in-between, where Baci is banned from drinking energy drinks except glucose,water etcetera as she stands all through in an unusual test of stamina, grits and resilience, which are some of the determinant of achievers of global reckoning.

So far, Uber, a transport brand is advertising a 40%fair deduction for enthusiasts around Lagos who may wish to join other fun curriers as they inspire Hilda Baci to the coveted prize in the 24 hours remaining.

On Twitter, there are calls for prominent gospel artists who may wish to thrill Hilda and her locust of fans as she inches to the stoppage seconds ready to bow to some beautiful bouquet of garlands. She is said to be in love with strings of gospel praise and worship rendition. To keep her beyond the breaking point, those who know her are of the opinion, this also may be the needed adrenaline as she scales the hurdles to relegate Lata Tondon who spent 87hours, 45 Minutes, and 00seconds cooking in Rewa, India, in 2019.

This weekend is rightly a merriment for a section of Akwa Ibom people and tourists. The state, a booming tourist destination, host Yvonne Godswill, a maiden finalist of Big Brother Titans, a reality show stream from South Africa. The reality show celebrity with some of her housemates was treated to a lavish airport reception; the next day (Saturday) to a golf tourney at the expansive 18 holes golf course, said to be Nigeria’s best within the precinct of Ibom Icon- a five star hospitality facility.

The weekend also receives fashion and entertainment idols for the 2nd edition of UYO FASHION WEEK. Stars like Johnny Drille, Nancy Isime, Ebuka Uchendu, Mai Ataifo, Ik Ogbonna, Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, etcetera were guest of Mae Edmond, the creative director of the show that is catching national attention to Akwa Ibom State.

In all of this, Nigeria’s development need places demand on infrastructure, literacy, information, awareness, participation, wellbeing and enabling environment for the actualization of goals beyond the blasphemous political maneuvering of a select class disguising as popular interest. This done, many Hilda Baci shall emerge in many fronts to etch Nigeria to the plain of development, growth, and significance. At the coronation of King Charles III, penultimate week, in a star-studded performance was Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage intentionally dressed on green pointing to the ecosystem of Nationality – Nigeria.

Stages as this, are beyond politics; it can only be earned by excellence , abhorring mediocrity.

Win Hilda Baci!