The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to attempt a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest dining table, measuring 3.6 kilometers, as the centerpiece of the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival scheduled for December in Abuja.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, to showcase Nigeria’s culinary heritage, promote economic opportunities, and significantly surpass the current record held by Egypt.
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) is championing the event in order to strengthen the country’s tourism value chain through skills training and entrepreneurship, particularly for youth.
The current record for the longest dining table, set in Cairo, Egypt, in 2019, stands at 3,189.93 meters. Nigeria’s proposed 3.6-kilometer (3,600 meters) table would represent a new global benchmark. The table is designed to serve a dual purpose, the record-breaking measurement in the morning and a communal dining event expected to host between 2,000 and 3,000 participants later in the day, with the theme, Oriki: Taste of Culture.
Minister Musawa described gastronomy as a crucial platform for economic inclusion, comparable to film and fashion, noting its role in national image-building.
The Renewed Hope Gastronomy Festival is very important because when we talk about economic growth and youth development, gastronomy plays a role… It’s remarkable how Nigerians use creativity to promote our identity and counter negative perception – Musawa
This event aligns with the plan of the government on diversifying the economy through the creative sector. President Tinubu is scheduled to formally unveil the festival and the world record event in Abuja.
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