This columnist woke up Monday morning, May 15, 2023 to the cheering news that Nigerian chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey, 27 years old and popularly known as Hilda Baci, has surpassed the current Guinness World Record Cookathon.

With her feat, she broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual after cooking for 87 hours 50 minutes nonstop!

The young lady began the competition on Thursday after she turned on her cooker at 4pm and surpassed the current world record holder on Monday morning.

If certified by the Guinness World Record, she will be displacing the current world record holder, Lata Tondon, an Indian chef who achieved the feat in 2019 with 87 hours 45 minutes uninterrupted cooking.

In her ongoing record-breaking attempt, Nigerians, including several celebrities defied the rain to physically cheer up the chef. The support for her by Nigerian celebrities and some government people is indicative of the Nigerian spirit. We love winners!

She had exhibited the can-do spirit of the Nigerian youths who in spite of all the bottlenecks on their path strip strive to lift themselves into success and stardom. By their own mettle, many Nigerians make us all proud and happy to be called Nigerian. They help us forget the albatross of horrendously poor leadership of the country who for several decades have made our country a horror. I say, kudos to the youth of this country.

Our youth do for themselves what youths elsewhere take for granted. In a country where the ruling class think only of themselves, youths can’t access power, well-funded schools, well equipped hospitals. The economy cannot even provide jobs for them upon graduation.

Talking about power, only God knows how much she spent on diesel to power her restaurant for four continuous days in her Guinness World Record quest.

You can bet that Lata Tondon, the Indian chef who had the previous record did not pass through what Hilda Baci went through in order to gain her quest!

One of the fascinating things that happened with her record-breaking performance beyond showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit, is her decision to exhibit her skills to the rest of the world. She entered the competition with her own resources, without support from local, state or federal governments, which in any case would not have been available for her as only those who are politically connected enjoy government patronage and support.

It is often said that success has many relatives and failure is an orphan. With the tremendous support Hilda Baci was getting from fellow young Nigerians on social media, and when her effort had gone viral, government people began to appear from everywhere to take some shine from her very commendable pursuit! They were indeed queuing up to get photo ops with her.

What Hilda Baci has done is typical of our youth. It is the youth that give hope to our country; it is the youth that hold up our flag for the world to see and admire!

Other Nigerian youths breaking records around the world include Nigerian artists such as Rema who recently made history by becoming the first artist to top the inaugural Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA) chart with his hit single ‘Calm Down’. This achievement has earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of Records, solidifying his place as one of the most successful African artists of his generation.

The MENA chart was launched in 2020 by the music streaming service, Anghami, in partnership with the Guinness World Records, to showcase the best music from the Middle East and North Africa. It also highlights the increasing global reach of African music, which has been gaining popularity in recent years thanks to artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido.

Also, Chukwuka Ekweani, better known as CKay, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer, recently became the first Nigerian singer to amass over a billion Spotify streams with a single song. The Warner Records signee accomplished a lot from his global hit song ‘Love Nwantiti ‘Ah Ah Ah’ receiving numerous certifications around the world and becoming the first African artist to reach 30 million monthly Spotify listeners.

Recently, Linus Williams Ifejika, the executive chairman and founder of B-Lord Group of Companies, a young and fast-rising Nigerian entrepreneur showed that Nigeria has not been totally left out in the technological world.

The tech guru reportedly rejected $10million from foreign investor over his newly invented BillPoint app. In his statement to newsmen, the Blord group founder emphasized that the offer was turned down because his team believes the app would generate much more profit than the amount in a few years. The BillPoint app was launched April, 2023 and since then it has gained a whole lot of momentum. The app which was designed for users to buy cheap airtime, data, pay electricity bills and cable tv bills with ease is one of its kind in Nigeria and its founder is optimistic that in coming years, the app will generate more profits.

These examples show that Nigerian young people are thriving despite all odds. This is not an excuse for government to leave the youths to chart their own path without support. Indeed, there will be more success stories of Nigerian young people if the government support them without politicizing such support.

Your Apologies Are Not Necessary

Some of Nigeria’s elected leaders who are in the lame duck period of their various administrations and have few weeks to exit power are now apologizing for their actions in government. Speaking in Abuja recently, President Muhammadu Buhari asked Nigerians hurt by his policies for pardon. “So, please, whoever feels I have done wrong to them, we are all humans. There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me,” said the president.

Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano State, has also asked for forgiveness from those he might have offended while leading the state in the last eight years. According to a statement by Muhammad Garba, Kano’s commissioner for information and internal affairs, the governor said, “I’ve forgiven anyone who at one time disparaged my person and my character for whatever reasons, and on my part, I equally beg or seek for your forgiveness for all that I’ve done wrong to you. For those who we have wronged, forgive us, on my part, I’ve forgiven those who wronged me no matter the weight of the offence.”

Similarly, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, asked the people of the state to forgive him wherever he went wrong in his administration, adding that he has forgiven those who also offended him.

These apologies from outgoing leaders at the twilight of their various administrations are not necessary. The lesson from this is that leaders, both elected and appointed ones must live by the golden rule; “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . .” If our leaders had governed by the golden rule, there would not be violations of rule of law. They would have worked to ensure equity, justice and fair play in every of their decisions while in power. As the adage says, those who cry over milk that they intentionally spilled are simply mischievous! They should just go away quietly and leave Nigerians to try to rebuild their lives. How does these apologies help those in Benue who were denied pensions for 8 years? How does the President’s apologies remedy anything?

– MAY NIGERIA REBOUND

Ray Morphy