Following the new world record in the cooking marathon set by a Nigerian female chef, Hilda Baci, Madonna University has congratulated her on her achievement.

The university, acknowledging that Chef Hilda is an alumna of the institution awarded her scholarship until PhD level.

In a statement titled ” Celebrating Excellence and Congratulating our proud Alumna, Hilda Bassey Effiong, signed by the school congratulated the new record breaker for the award of scholarship to PhD level.

Celebrating Excellence and Congratulating our proud Alumna, Hilda Bassey Effiong signed by Associate Prof. Martin Anagboso, DVC(Admin) the school confirms the award of scholarship to Hilda to PhD level by the founder and chancellor on the university.

The statement said, “The management, staff and students of Madonna University, Nigeria congratulate Hilda Bassey Effiong on the award of scholarship to PhD level and Madonna University, Nigeria highest merit award by the Founder and Chancellor.

“These awards are in recognition of her achievement. Since its inception over two decades ago, Madonna University has prided itself as a pacesetter and record breaker with several achievements under its belt. For instance, it is on record that we are the first private university to go into full operation in Nigeria and the first Catholic University in the West African sub-region. More so, we are the first Nigerian university to operate a 100% boarding system for all students.

“We have remained steadfast in our commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence, equipping our teeming students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world.

“And as we nurture and groom our students to be leaders and impact-makers, we also take pride in celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding alumni who continue to make significant contributions not only in their fields but the society at large.

“Today, we are thrilled to shine a well-deserved spotlight on Hilda Baci, a remarkable individual whose journey showcases the spirit of excellence, one we are privileged and proud to have taken part in its nurturing. On the 11th of May 2023, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, a talented chef and CEO of MyFoodbyHilda, embarked on a courageous mission to break the Guinness World Records for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

“With the former record standing at 88 hours, Hilda, in her embodiment of excellence, tenacity, sheer will, masterful culinary skills and unparalleled resilience, sought to not just break the existing record, but also make another by cooking for 96 hours. Remarkably, she extended her cooking time by an additional four hours, bringing it to an impressive 100 hours.”

Going further to reveal Hilda’s performance while with the university, the statement said with her success story, she has exemplified the impact of the school on her.

“As a distinguished alumna of our esteemed institution, she exemplifies the impact of a Madonna University education. During her time as a Sociology student at Madonna University Okija campus from 2011 to 2015, she demonstrated a deep understanding of social dynamics that shape our society and an unwavering dedication to making a positive difference. Her exceptional talents and unshakeable confidence have garnered admiration from individuals far and wide, making her a source of inspiration to countless others.

“Despite the long hours, physical strain, and demanding circumstances, she was committed to delivering meals of impeccable quality. Each dish held a torch to her exceptional culinary skills and pursuit of excellence. The desire to be excellent no matter the circumstance is a trait one can only find in individuals marked for greatness. Her recent endeavour to break the Guinness World Records for the longest cooking marathon by an individual is a testament to her resilience, passion, and commitment to pushing boundaries.

“This accomplishment not only showcases Hilda’s extraordinary determination but also highlights the type of individuals that Madonna University produces. Our focus on fostering critical thinking, promoting creativity, and instilling a sense of social responsibility empowers our graduates to excel in various spheres of life.

“We take immense pride in Hilda Baci’s remarkable achievement and the unwavering commitment of all our alumni to making a positive impact on society. As we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hilda, we express our sincere gratitude to all those who have supported her throughout her journey.As we continue to break records, whether as an institution or through our alumni and students, we remain devoted to nurturing leaders, innovators, and catalysts of change.

“Our goal has always been to produce individuals who serve as a beacon of positive change, growth, and excellence, individuals who are uncompromising in their morals and values no matter the circumstance. We are proud of her,” the statement concluded.

Nigerian chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci has revealed that she did not know she could sit while cooking to break the Guinness world record.

Hilda who on Monday completed a 100-hour cooking marathon in her quest to become the Guinness World Records holder for the ‘longest cooking time’ by an individual disclosed this in an interview on Friday.

The Akwa Ibom State born said she stood for 100 hours cooking because she saw that the contestant who had won the challenge didn’t sit while cooking.

“I didn’t know I could sit while cooking. I only found out after I completed the challenge that I could.

“One of the reasons I was intentional about filming the whole process was because when I decided to attempt the challenge, I went online and could only see three videos.

“One of the reasons why I didn’t know I could sit despite the fact that Guinness didn’t ask me to stand is that when I checked the videos of the previous chef, she was standing.

“Only after the attempt did I find a clip of her sitting. Maybe before now, no one thought was possible to stand for 100 hours cooking but because somebody has done it, it means it’s possible and doable.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the State Tretyakov Gallery to return one of the country’s most precious religious icons, Andrei Rublev’s 15th-century Trinity, to the Russian Orthodox Church, as art experts worldwide warn that the artifact is too fragile for travel. 

“All professional restorers unanimously say that the condition of the Trinity plaque is such that any movement of it, even for a short distance, is fraught with danger and the icon may simply [be destroyed],” art historian Alexei Lidov told the Insider, as quoted in the Art Newspaper.

The decree comes a week after the Hermitage Museum, also in Saint Petersburg, agreed to return the silver sarcophagus of Saint Alexander Nevsky to the church. The move has been criticized as a transparent ploy by Putin to sustain the support of the highly influential religious body for his protracted invasion of Ukraine, with the Economist quipping, “The Kremlin drafts a much-loved icon for war propaganda.”

The Russian Orthodox Church has previously demonstrated its support of Russia’s war on Ukraine—which has suffered at least 100,000 casualties, according the the US Department of Security—by blessing Russian soldiers and promising glory in Heaven for those killed in duty.

The icon depicts three angels visiting the Prophet Abraham at the Oak of Mamre, as described in the Book of Genesis. The icon is regarded as one of the greatest visual representations of Trinitarian unity, and had been kept at the monastery until it was taken by the Soviet state.

Rublev’s piece was commissioned to honor Saint Sergius of Radonezh of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, outside Moscow, and was almost totally shrouded with a metal covering called a riza until 1904 by the order of Ivan the Terrible.

“It could simply be lost; it could disintegrate into several pieces,” Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts director Elizaveta Likhacheva told the official Russian news agency Tass. “It consists of three plates that are not very securely attached to each other.”

The Art Newspaper also quoted Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who said that the transfer of the icon is “the prerogative of the ministry of culture” and “without a doubt was coordinated with the head of state.” Andrei Vorobev, a former head of the catalog of the Russian Federation Museum collections and deputy director of the Tretyakov Gallery, however, told El País that Putin “does not have the authority to dispose of objects belonging to the state, included in the Russian museum collection” and “he has never had such authority.”

Earlier this year, the Russian Ministry of Culture replaced the Tretyakov Gallery‘s general director after demanding the museum change its exhibits to be in line with the country’s “spiritual and moral values.”

[ArtNews]