In recent years, Nigeria has continued to gain international attention through the efforts of its citizens who have broken Guinness World Records in different fields.
From food and arts to sports, music, and education, Nigerians have shown creativity, strength, and resilience, turning local talents into achievements that are recognized globally.
One of the latest attempts came from chef Hilda Baci, who set out in Lagos to cook what she hoped would become the world’s largest pot of Jollof rice. Although the result is still awaiting confirmation by Guinness World Records, her effort attracted wide attention and drew focus to Nigeria’s rich food culture. This is not the first time Baci has been in the global spotlight. In 2023, she cooked nonstop for 93 hours and 11 minutes, which earned her the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. However, she later lost that record to Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes.
Before and after Baci’s feat, other Nigerians have also secured their place in history. In 2025, 14-year-old Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who lives with autism, produced a canvas measuring 12,381.02 square metres, which Guinness World Records confirmed as the largest art canvas ever made by an individual. Another artist, Fola David, who is also a medical doctor, created a drawing of 1,004.7 square metres in Lagos in 2024, giving him the record for the world’s largest drawing.
Sports and entertainment have also produced record-breakers. Gbenga Ezekiel from Akure has set multiple rope skipping records, including the most skips in one minute on one leg and the most double-under skips in one minute on one leg. In music, DJ Obi performed nonstop in Lagos for 240 hours in 2016, winning global recognition for the longest DJ set. Earlier, in 2006, dancer Kaffy led her team in a dance session lasting 55 hours and 40 minutes, creating the longest dance party ever recorded.
Photography also earned Nigeria a spot when Bayo Omoboriowo, the official photographer of former President Muhammadu Buhari, produced a 60-square-metre photo book in 2021, which Guinness recognized as the largest of its kind. In sports, the late Stephen Keshi entered the record books in 2013 as the first African to win the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and as a coach.
Education was also not left out. In 2011, teacher Adetunwase Adenle organized 4,222 schoolchildren in Lagos for a mass reading exercise, setting a record for the most children reading aloud with an adult. Meanwhile, legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti still holds the record for releasing the most studio albums as a solo artist, with 46 albums produced between 1969 and 1992.
Through these records, Nigerians have continued to display their creativity, talent, and endurance to the world. Each achievement tells a story of passion and determination, making Nigeria stand out on the global stage.