The Federal Government has unveiled plans to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest dining table during the ‘Oriki: Taste of Culture’ Gastronomy Festival slated for December 6, 2025, in Abuja.
Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Abisoye Fagade, said the record-breaking table will span an impressive 3.6 kilometres — long enough to seat between 2,000 and 3,000 guests.
Fagade disclosed the plan at a briefing attended by the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. He described the event as both a celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and a major tourism drive aimed at showcasing the nation’s culinary excellence on the global stage.
“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.”
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He added that the festival aims to strengthen Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism value chain through skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment, while positioning the country as a leading destination for gastronomy and cultural experiences.
Musawa endorsed the project, describing gastronomy as an emerging force in Nigeria’s creative economy comparable to the nation’s booming film and music sectors.
“When we talk about economic growth and youth development, gastronomy plays a role just like film, music, and fashion,” Musawa said. “People eat every day, and Nigeria has made significant progress in showcasing its food globally.”
She also commended Nigerian chefs and culinary entrepreneurs for using food to promote the country’s cultural identity and expand its global influence.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to officially unveil the festival and the world record attempt in Abuja.
The current Guinness World Record for the longest dining table is held by Cairo, Egypt, which set a record of 3,189.93 meters in 2019.
Nigeria’s proposed 3.6-kilometer table would comfortably surpass that mark, potentially securing the nation’s place in the global record books.
