Longest dinning table ever: Nigerian govt enters race for Guinness World record

The Federal Government is preparing to attempt a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest dining table as part of the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival scheduled for December, in Abuja.

The federal government announced this plan on Thursday at a joint world press conference by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa alongside the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade.

This year’s edition of the festival, themed ‘Oriki: Taste of Culture,’ will focus on showcasing Nigeria’s diverse culinary heritage and promoting opportunities in the country’s hospitality and creative economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Fagade said the festival will feature a 3.6-kilometre dining table expected to host between 2,000 and 3,000 participants.

The record-breaking attempt will take place on the morning of the event and the table will later serve as a 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,” Fagade said.

He explained that the gastronomy festival forms part of NIHOTOUR’s wider efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality value chain through skills training, entrepreneurship, and youth participation.

“Through this festival, NIHOTOUR aims to empower youth in culinary and hospitality skills, create jobs, and promote innovation within the sector.

“It also provides an opportunity to attract investors and expand business prospects in food, hospitality, and agribusiness,” he stated.

Dr. Fagade added that NIHOTOUR is partnering with private organisations to build technical capacity and improve professional standards in the hospitality industry.

Also speaking, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the gastronomy festival as an important platform for economic inclusion and youth development across the creative sector.

“The Renewed Hope Gastronomy Festival is very important because 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.

The Minister noted that food has become a powerful tool for national image-building and cultural diplomacy, citing how Nigerians have used creativity to project their identity through cuisine.

“It’s remarkable how Nigerians use creativity to promote our identity and counter negative perception. This initiative aligns with our focus on economic growth and job creation in a culturally relevant way,” she said.

The week-long event will feature exhibitions, culinary masterclasses, cultural performances, food tastings, and investment dialogues, all aimed at highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence in global gastronomy.

The Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and Guinness World Record attempt for the longest dining table will be formally unveiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the nation’s capital, Abuja.