WEEKLY ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT - Hilda

Hilda Effiong Bassey (Hilda Baci)

Past Story

Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, is a Nigerian chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur whose journey began with a simple love for cooking. While studying Sociology at Babcock University, Hilda discovered that cooking wasn’t just a hobby—it was a potential business.

After graduation, she faced the common Nigerian reality of limited job opportunities. Instead of waiting, she leaned into her skill. She started cooking professionally from home, sharing her meals online and gradually building a loyal audience. Like many entrepreneurs, her early days were marked by limited capital, self-doubt, and the challenge of convincing people that cooking could become a serious, scalable business.

Her turning point came when she decided to formalize her passion into a brand, proving that consistency and skill could open doors.

Present Story

Today, Hilda Baci is the founder and CEO of My Food by Hilda, a premium restaurant in Lagos. She rose to global prominence in 2023 after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, cooking continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes.

This achievement did more than earn her a title—it positioned her as a global symbol of resilience, excellence, and Nigerian creativity. Hilda has since become a sought-after brand ambassador, speaker, and role model for young entrepreneurs. Her brand now extends beyond food into media, partnerships, and influence, showing how personal branding can amplify business growth.

Lessons to Take as an Enterprise

1. Start With What You Have
   Hilda began with a home kitchen. You don’t need perfection to start—clarity and commitment are more important.

2. Turn Skill Into Structure
   Passion becomes profitable when it is organized into a business system. Formalizing her brand changed everything.

3. Consistency Builds Visibility
   By consistently showing up and sharing her journey, Hilda attracted opportunities that money couldn’t buy.

4. Use Milestones as Marketing
   The Guinness World Record was not just a personal win—it was a strategic branding move that elevated her enterprise globally.

5. Personal Brand Is Business Power
   In today’s economy, people buy stories as much as products. Hilda’s story strengthened trust in her brand.

6. Think Beyond the Product
   Hilda didn’t stop at cooking. She expanded into influence, partnerships, and long-term brand value.