Recently, Nigerians have shown increased interest in Guinness World Records. Record attempts are now accompanied by media coverage, cameras, live streams, and social media promotion, with supporters gathering at the venues.
Some attempts, however, happen quietly and only gain attention after official confirmation.
This new wave of interest does not mean Nigeria is new to global recognition.
Nigerians have appeared in the record books for decades, reports Guardian Life.
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, for example, was once listed for recording a large number of songs in a single session in the 1970s.
The main difference today is visibility. Social media platforms such as Instagram, X and TikTok have turned record attempts into shared national moments, allowing people from different locations to witness the events virtually.
Below is a verified list of Nigerians who currently hold, or have officially held, Guinness World Records, including dates, venues and measurements as recognised by Guinness World Records.
Hilda Baci (30 years)
Record: Longest cooking marathon (individual)
Time achieved: 93 hours, 11 minutes
Date: May 11–15, 2023; ratified June 2023
Venue: Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos
Record: Largest serving of rice
Measurement: 8,780 kilogrammes
Date: September 12, 2025
Venue: Victoria Island, Lagos
Gbenga Ezekiel (18 years)
Record: Most skips in one minute on one leg
Total number: 278
Date: 2023
Venue: Akure
Tunde Onakoya (31 years)
Record: Longest chess marathon
Time achieved: 64 hours
Date: April 17, 2025
Venue: Times Square, New York, United States
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke (15 years old)
Record: Largest painting on canvas by an individual
Measurement: 12,381.02 square metres
Date verified: April 2, 2025
Venue: Abuja, Nigeria
Artwork title: Impossibility is a Myth
Chukwuebuka Ezugha (age not publicly disclosed)
Record: Most contortion arm passes while balancing a football on the head
Time achieved: 30 seconds
Date: November 11, 2023
Venue: Ikot Ekpene
Chukwuebuka Ezugha, Victor Richard Kipo & Vincent Okezie (not publicly disclosed)
Record: Most consecutive passes of a football between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person
Count: 129 passes
Date: March 11, 2022
Venue: Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Fela Kuti (58 years old)
Record: Recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over a career spanning 23 years
Era: 1992
Venue: Nigeria
Kaffy (45 years old)
Record: Longest dance party
Time achieved: 55 hours, 40 minutes
Date: 2006
Venue: Lagos
Ibitoye Kingfahd (not publicly disclosed)
Record: Longest magic show by an individual
Time achieved: 50 hours straight
Dates: 27–29 November 2025
Venue: Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
A cultural moment, not a coincidence
Guinness World Records attempts in Nigeria have shifted from isolated achievements to organised, sponsor-backed events.
Corporate brands now align with attempts. For example, Hilda Baci’s largest pot of jollof rice was sponsored by Gino, earning the brand its own Guinness plaque. State officials and celebrities also attend launches, with crowds gathering both physically and online.
