Nigerian chef Tartenger Victor, also known as Chef Naira Victor, has achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, completing a staggering 135-hour cook-a-thon. Surpassing the previous record of Irish chef Alan Fisher, Chef Naira Victor exceeded it by an additional 15 minutes and 43 seconds. This accomplishment marks a reclaiming of the title previously held by fellow Nigerian chef Hilda Baci in May 2023, only to be dethroned by Fisher within six months.
Driven by his aspiration to contribute to the welfare of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and bring pride to his state, Chef Naira Victor embarked on the 135-hour cook-a-thon on February 27, 2024, culminating in its successful completion on March 3. The record-setting event unfolded at Tiger Bar in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue, drawing a daily crowd of spectators.
Throughout the six-day marathon, Chef Naira Victor garnered support from various quarters, with Benue-born celebrities, government officials, and local brands rallying behind him. Notable personalities in attendance included Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, and Mr. Terver Akase, former chief press secretary to the immediate past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom.
Financial contributions poured in, with a significant donation of 1.5 million Naira from Benue-born reality TV star Kidd Waya, 100 thousand Naira from international MC cum hypeman Big Smart Oche, and a 100×100 plot of land from the Chairman and CEO of IKN Habitat Nigeria Limited, Evangelist Brahms Tor-Ikuan. This generous gesture will be processed by Reverend Father Ukeyima John, a prominent Roman Catholic priest in the state.
Following the successful completion of the cook-a-thon, Chef Naira Victor received a warm welcome at the government house from the state governor. The governor expressed appreciation for the chef’s courage and diligence, acknowledging his efforts to showcase Benue on a global platform through the record-setting “Cook-A-Thon.” In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Chef Naira Victor was hailed as a victor with a tenacious and determined spirit, and his milestone was deemed a steppingstone for even more significant successes in the future.
A Tiv tribe native from Konshisha local government area in Benue state, Chef Naira Victor demonstrated his commitment to social responsibility by donating over 70% of the prepared food during the cook-a-thon to internally displaced persons in the state.