The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced plans to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dining table.
Director-General of the institute, Dr Abisoye Fagade, disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos during a roundtable meeting with the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Travel (ANJET).
According to him, the institute aims to set a new record with a dining table measuring 3,500 metres, surpassing the current record of about 2,000 metres. The event is scheduled to take place on 6 December in Abuja and will serve as the official kickoff of Detty December.
“Gastronomy is going to happen this year and is happening in a special way. This year, we are making an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the longest table in the world,” Fagade said.
He explained that the event, which will feature live cooking, is designed to showcase Nigerian foods and cuisines from different regions, while also hosting a culinary exchange.
“It’s going to be either a three-day or four-day event, which will showcase all our culinaries. They’re all going to be fully Nigerian meals. The presentation, look and feel, how we can modernise our food, how we can actually make it more presentable for the global world to even want to taste it. Other embassies can showcase their meals too; we are involving all the embassies on this one,” he said.
The Director-General further revealed that the gastronomy event would also feature the world’s longest bar to showcase Nigerian drinks, including palm wine.
“There are a lot of drinks in Nigeria. Whether we brew them here or not, they are being consumed by Nigerians,” he said.
Fagade confirmed that NIHOTOUR had received official approval from the Guinness Book of World Records to proceed with the attempt.
He added that the institute was reaching out to the private sector for partnerships to ensure the event becomes a memorable celebration of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism potential.
He urged corporate organisations to seize the opportunity to showcase their brands while promoting Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage.
