Monday, November 10, 2025 -The federal government is set to make history with an ambitious attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dining table a 3.6-kilometre setup expected to host between 2,000 and 3,000 guests.
The record-breaking event will headline the Mega Renewed
Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival, slated for December in Abuja.
The plan was unveiled recently in Abuja during a joint
world press conference addressed by the Director-General of the National
Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare Abisoye Fagade, and the
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa
Musawa.
This year’s edition, themed, “Oriki: Taste of Culture,”
aimed to celebrate Nigeria’s culinary diversity while promoting economic
opportunities in the nation’s hospitality and creative sectors, in line with
President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Fagade said the record-breaking attempt would take place on
the morning of December 6, after which the table would be used as a communal
dining space later in the day.
“We plan to break the record in the morning of December 6
and use the same table for a dining event later. There will be food, culture,
music, and comedy in the evening. It will show that Abuja can also host major
cultural events in December,” he stated.
He explained that the festival formed part of
NIHOTOUR’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism value chain through
skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
Fagade also highlighted NIHOTOUR’s strategic partnership
with Novarosta, noting that the collaboration underscored the Institute’s
commitment to deepening technical capacity, enhancing skill acquisition, and
expanding international exposure for Nigerian culinary professionals.
“Through our partnership with Novarosta, we are expanding
the frontiers of hospitality training and positioning Nigeria as a global
player in gastronomy,” he added.
According to him, the initiative was expected to
attract investors and expand business prospects in food, hospitality, and
agribusiness.
Also speaking, Musawa described the event as a strategic
platform for economic inclusion and youth participation in the creative
economy.
“When we talk about economic growth and youth development,
gastronomy plays a role just like film, music, and fashion. People eat every
day, and Nigeria has made significant progress in showcasing its food
globally,” she said.
She praised the role Nigerian
cuisine has continued to play in cultural diplomacy, noting that
the creativity of Nigerian chefs and food entrepreneurs, has deepened the
country’s global cultural influence.
The week-long festival would feature exhibitions,
culinary masterclasses, cultural displays, food tastings, and investment
dialogues.
President Tinubu is expected to formally unveil the Mega
Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and the Guinness World Record attempt
in Abuja.
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