Nigeria to attempt Guinness World Record for world’s longest dining table
Federal Government unveils record-breaking plan for gastronomy festival
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to attempt a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest dining table during the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival, scheduled to take place in December 2025 in Abuja.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote Nigeria’s culinary excellence, boost tourism, and strengthen the nation’s global cultural reputation.
The announcement was made at a joint world press conference on Thursday by the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, alongside the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Festival to celebrate Nigerian cuisine and creativity
This year’s edition of the annual NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival will be held under the theme “Oriki: Taste of Culture.” The event aims to celebrate Nigeria’s diverse culinary traditions, showcasing regional delicacies from across the country while highlighting innovation within the nation’s hospitality and creative industries.
Dr. Fagade disclosed that the festival will feature a 3.6-kilometre-long dining table, designed to accommodate between 2,000 and 3,000 participants. The record-breaking attempt will be held on the morning of December 6, after which the same table will transform into a grand communal dining space in the evening.
“We plan to break the record in the morning of December 6 and use the same table for a dining event later in the day. There will be food, culture, music, and comedy in the evening. It will show that Abuja can also host major cultural events in December,”
— Dr. Abisoye Fagade, NIHOTOUR DG
The Director-General emphasized that the gastronomy festival is part of NIHOTOUR’s long-term mission to develop Nigeria’s hospitality value chain by promoting skills training, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
Strengthening tourism through food and culture
According to Dr. Fagade, the initiative will not only promote Nigerian cuisine but also attract investment and expand business opportunities in food production, hospitality, and agribusiness. He noted that NIHOTOUR is partnering with several private organizations to improve technical capacity, professional standards, and overall service quality across the hospitality sector.
He further explained that the event aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to diversify Nigeria’s economy through tourism, culture, and the creative arts.
“Our goal is to use this record-breaking attempt to draw attention to the immense potential of Nigerian cuisine and showcase how our food can be a global economic driver,”
— Dr. Fagade
Minister Musawa: Gastronomy as a tool for inclusion and growth
Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the upcoming festival as a strategic platform for economic inclusion and youth engagement within Nigeria’s growing creative economy. She highlighted that gastronomy—just like film, fashion, and music—plays an increasingly vital role in global cultural diplomacy and national branding.
“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,”
— Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy
Musawa praised the ingenuity of Nigerian chefs and food entrepreneurs who have successfully taken traditional dishes such as jollof rice, suya, and akara to international audiences. She added that the Federal Government is committed to supporting such creative efforts that enhance Nigeria’s cultural visibility abroad.
Week-long celebration of Nigeria’s hospitality industry
The Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival will be a week-long event filled with exhibitions, culinary masterclasses, live cooking demonstrations, cultural performances, and investment dialogues. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend food tastings, industry networking sessions, and interactive workshops designed to inspire the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.
Organizers say the festival will serve as a unifying platform that connects government, private sector players, investors, and creative professionals in building a stronger, more inclusive tourism ecosystem.
President Tinubu to formally unveil the festival
The grand unveiling of the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and the Guinness World Record attempt for the longest dining table will be performed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja. The event is expected to draw international attention, positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for culinary and cultural tourism in Africa.
As preparations intensify, excitement continues to build among chefs, food enthusiasts, and stakeholders in the hospitality industry who see the event as a milestone for Nigeria’s creative economy.
