The Federal Government has announced plans to attempt a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest dining table during this year’s Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival taking place in December in Abuja.
The initiative was revealed on Thursday at a joint world press briefing featuring 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,” will spotlight Nigeria’s rich culinary traditions while creating visibility for opportunities in hospitality and the broader creative sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Fagade disclosed that the centrepiece of the event will be a 3.6-kilometre dining table, designed to accommodate between 2,000 and 3,000 guests. According to him, the record attempt will be conducted on the morning of December 6, after which the same table will be transformed into a communal dining area for evening festivities.
He explained that the event will blend food, music, culture, and comedy, adding that the initiative aims to showcase Abuja as a capable host for major December cultural events.
He also emphasized that the festival forms part of NIHOTOUR’s mission to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism value chain through capacity building, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
The DG noted that the project is expected to attract investments and unlock opportunities in hospitality, food, and agribusiness. Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the festival as a strong avenue for economic inclusion and youth engagement in the creative economy.
She highlighted the increasing global recognition of Nigerian cuisine and praised the innovation Nigerians bring to promoting local dishes abroad.
The festival along with the Guinness World Record attempt will be officially launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.