Nigeria to Attempt Guinness World Record for Longest Dining Table in Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to attempt a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest dining table, as part of a landmark cultural and tourism initiative in the nation’s capital. The ambitious record attempt will headline the upcoming ‘Oriki: Taste of Culture’ Gastronomy Festival, featuring a 3.6-kilometre-long dining table stretching through parts of Abuja. Abisoye Fagade, Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), disclosed the plan on Thursday during a briefing attended by Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy. According to Fagade, the event — scheduled for December 6, 2025 — will host between 2,000 and 3,000 participants and serve a dual purpose: a world record attempt in the morning and a grand communal dining experience 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. There will be food, culture, music and comedy in the evening,” Fagade said. “It will show that Abuja can also host major cultural events in December.” He explained that the festival aims to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality value chain, focusing on skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment while attracting local and international investors. Minister Musawa endorsed the initiative, describing gastronomy as an emerging driver of economic growth and youth engagement comparable to Nigeria’s film, music, and fashion industries. “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 noted. Musawa also commended Nigerian chefs and food entrepreneurs for enhancing the country’s cultural influence through creative cuisine and culinary storytelling. The festival and world record attempt will be formally unveiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja. The current Guinness World Record for the longest dining table stands at 3,189.93 meters, achieved in Cairo, Egypt, in 2019. Nigeria’s proposed 3.6-kilometer table would comfortably surpass this milestone if successful.