Chef Gbolabo Adebakin, widely known as Captain Gibbs, shared the massive behind-the-scenes preparation that drove Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record success during an interview with NairametricsTV titled “The Chef Who Wants to Standardise Nigeria’s Food Industry.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Massive Planning and Severe Sleep Deprivation

• The Prep Timeline: While the cooking marathon itself lasted roughly four days (over 100 hours), the behind-the-scenes team worked continuously for a full week without sleep to prep beforehand.

• Abandoned Rest Plans: Adebakin initially booked a hotel nearby to rest, but after attempting to leave on the first day to refresh, he abandoned the idea and stayed on-site for the entire duration, expressing no regrets.

• Scaled-Up Operations: The second record attempt proved even more demanding, requiring large-scale logistics with two major hubs—one dedicated to food preparation and another to distribution.

Designing the Menu and Managing Logistics

• Showcasing Nigerian Cuisine: Keeping with Hilda Baci’s firm preference, the team built a menu centered exclusively on Nigerian meals that aligned with strict Guinness World Records guidelines.

• Precise Scheduling: Every meal was timed meticulously to fit specific window requirements, ranging from two-minute preparations up to 20-minute mark intervals.

• Comprehensive Oversight: Beyond cooking, the team managed detailed recipes, procurement plans, ingredient shelf life, and storage limitations. They also coordinated with farmers, market suppliers, and vendors to guarantee continuous access to fresh ingredients.

• Staff Welfare: Ensuring crew safety and well-being was a top priority, with comprehensive schedules and welfare plans designed to manage health and fatigue throughout the gruelling event.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee, led by President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, is set to meet next week to evaluate FIFA’s newly proposed commercial venture, the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Key Details of the Proposal

• The Venture: FIFA plans to launch a commercial subsidiary to manage its premier tournaments, including the World Cup and Club World Cup, allowing private investors to acquire minority stakes.

• Financial Projections: FIFA values the new company at $20 billion, aiming to raise up to $4.2 billion.

• Member Payouts: If approved, FIFA’s 211 member associations would receive a $20 million one-off payment in early 2027, alongside a funding boost from $8 million to $20 million per association for the 2027–2030 cycle.

• FIFA’s Stance: President Gianni Infantino strongly defended the plan, calling it a “golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally.”

Global and Regional Pushback

The initiative has encountered significant international resistance:

• UEFA & EU Officials: Warn against excessive commercialisation and potential conflicts of interest.

• CONCACAF & AFC: Criticise the timing and lack of prior consultation with member associations before the public announcement.

CAF’s Next Steps

While remaining open to increasing financial resources for African football, CAF stated it will thoroughly assess the initiative and continue consulting its member associations before establishing a definitive official position.

• Call for Visa Denials: Former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi urged the Nigeria Immigration Service to deny visas to South African singer Tyla and her entourage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Trigger for the Outrage: This demand arose following reports that Nigerian artist Ayra Starr and her team were allegedly denied South African visas, leading to the cancellation of her scheduled concert just days before the event.

  • Reciprocity in Treatment: Pere argued that Nigeria ought to stop welcoming South African performers when local artists face obstacles entering South Africa, stating that “madness must match madness”.

  • Disagreement with Sowore: He also opposed activist Omoyele Sowore, who had previously dismissed calls to boycott Tyla’s upcoming concert in Nigeria, maintaining that the country needs to take a strong, reciprocal stance.