ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government 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 for December in Abuja.
The announcement was made on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at a joint press conference by the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
This year’s festival, themed “Oriki: Taste of Culture,” aims to celebrate Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage while promoting investment opportunities within the country’s hospitality and creative sectors, in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Fagade revealed that the proposed dining table will stretch 3.6 kilometres, accommodating between 2,000 and 3,000 participants.
The record attempt is slated for the morning of Saturday, December 6, 2025, after which the table will serve as a communal dining space for a grand evening celebration.
“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,” Fagade said.
“There will be food, culture, music, and comedy in the evening. It will show that Abuja can also host major cultural events in December.”
He explained that the gastronomy festival is part of NIHOTOUR’s broader mission to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality value chain through skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
The initiative, he said, is expected to create jobs, attract investors, and expand opportunities in food, hospitality, and agribusiness.
Fagade added that NIHOTOUR is collaborating with private partners to enhance technical capacity and professional standards across the industry, noting that the event represents a major milestone in positioning Nigeria as a premier destination for culinary tourism.
Speaking at the briefing, Minister Musawa described the gastronomy festival as a strategic platform for economic inclusion, cultural exchange, and youth development within the creative economy.
“When we talk about economic growth and youth development, gastronomy plays a role just like film, music, and fashion,” she said.
“People eat every day, and Nigeria has made significant progress in showcasing its food globally.”
Musawa highlighted the growing global appreciation of Nigerian cuisine, citing its potential as a form of cultural diplomacy and a key driver of the creative economy.
She praised the innovation of Nigerian chefs and restaurateurs who have taken local dishes to international audiences.
The week-long festival will feature culinary exhibitions, food tastings, masterclasses by top chefs, investment forums, and live cultural performances.
It will also spotlight Nigeria’s diverse regional cuisines — from northern suya and tuwo to southern banga soup and jollof rice — as part of a larger effort to brand Nigerian food for global markets.
The Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and the Guinness World Record attempt for the world’s longest dining table will be officially unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
