Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has announced plans 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 accommodate between 2,000 and 3,000 participants — during the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival scheduled for December in Abuja.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a joint world press briefing by the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr.) 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,” aims to celebrate Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage while advancing economic growth and creative industry participation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Fagade revealed that the record-breaking attempt will take place on the morning of December 6, after which the same table will be transformed into a communal dining experience 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 said.
He explained that the festival aligns with NIHOTOUR’s broader mission to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism value chain through skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment, while also attracting investors and expanding business opportunities in food, hospitality, and agribusiness.
Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the event as a strategic platform for economic inclusion and youth engagement in the creative economy, emphasizing the importance of gastronomy in Nigeria’s cultural and economic narrative.
“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.
Musawa commended Nigerian chefs and food entrepreneurs for their contributions to cultural diplomacy, noting that the country’s diverse cuisine has become a powerful tool for global cultural influence.
The week-long festival will feature a vibrant lineup of culinary masterclasses, food tastings, exhibitions, cultural performances, and investment dialogues, designed to spotlight Nigeria’s culinary excellence and creative talent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to officially unveil the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and flag off the Guinness World Record attempt in Abuja.
