4 Nigerians that attempted world records in 2023

 

Despite the multi-dimensional challenges that faced Nigerians this year, one of the most notable trends that swept the country in 2023 was attempts by several people to challenge and break world records.

It all started in January with a 17- 17-year-old pupil, Philip Solomon, who attempted to break the Guinness World record for most skips on one foot in 30 seconds.

While this feat was less publicised, in May, a media frenzy followed another Guinness World Record-breaking attempt by Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci.

The restaurateur set out to beat the 87-hour record set by her Indian counterpart, Lata Tondon, for the world’s longest cooking time.

. Philip Solomon

In January 2023,  a student of Oyemekun Grammar School Akure, Ondo State, Philp Solomon, made 153 skips on one foot in 30 seconds. This feat was not certified as a Guinness World Record till May 2023. With the confirmation published by GWR, Solomon dethroned the former record holder for the most skips on one foot, Rasel Islam, a native of Bangladesh whose record was 145 skips.

Chinonso Eche

Fondly referred to as “Amazing Kid Eche”, the football prodigy has been breaking records since his first in 2019. Four years ago, Eche set a new GWR for most consecutive football touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head with 111 touches. After he made the feat, Eche promised it would not be his last and has kept his word. The Warri indigene has set four new records since then. These include the fastest time to 1,000 football touches while balancing a ball on the head at 7 min 46 sec; most football headers in a prone position in one minute with 233 headers; and most football touches in a seated position while balancing a ball on the head in one minute, with 197 touches.

In February 2023, 14-year-old Eche went on to break his own 2019 record for the most consecutive football touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head. Eche achieved this with 133 touches while on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy.

Hilda Baci 

Lagos-based restaurateur, Hilda Baci, set the internet ablaze after switching on her cooking gas on May 11, 2023, at exactly 4pm. In the space of hours, Nigerian netizens began to keenly follow her progress as she pressed ahead to the 96-hour goal. Celebrities, politicians, influencers, and several well-wishers visited the venue at Amore Gardens Lekki, Lagos to watch history in the making. Baci hit her initial goal and surpassed it by another four hours on May 15 when she finally switched off the gas.

Baci was declared the World Record Holder for the longest cooking marathon by Guinness in June 2023 with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes. Baci’s record has since been broken by Irish chef, Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours 57 minutes from September 28 to October 3, 2023.

. Chef Dammy

Less than a month after Hilda Baci’s attempt, Ekiti-based Damilola Adeparusi began a 120-hour cook-a-thon. Also known as Chef Dammy, the 22-year-old  quickly caught the attention of netizens. While some frowned at her attempt to break Baci’s yet-to-be-confirmed record at the time, others drummed support for her.

However, her attempt was never confirmed by the Guinness World Record because it was not officially registered.