TELL Magazine

By the time he walks out of the kitchen this Friday, Temitope Adebayo, aka Tope Maggie, the Ogbomoso-born chef would have set a new Guiness World Record in marathon cooking. He had beaten the record of Alan Fisher, the Irish chef who with his over 119 hours of nonstop cooking had emerged the record holder in the world. When he started Thursday last week, Tope targeted 200 hours, which ends Friday.

As Tope got close to beating the record set by Fisher, support grew for him, not just from the local community and the excited students of Ladoke Akintola University, situated in the town but from government and people from all walks of life. Mr. Omowaiye, a former commissioner in the neighbouring Osun State sent ₦150,000:00 to support him, even as he called for more support for him.

Dotun Oyelade, commissioner for information in his state of Oyo also visited him to convey the support of the state government for his effort. Oyelade who is also a leader of thought in Ogbomoso said the attempt by Tope is “a remarkable demonstration of the resilient spirit of youths in Oyo State.”

Before the commissioner left the Ogbomoso Recreation Club venue of the marathon, he had a brief chat with Tope.

With his new record, Tope Maggie will bring back to Nigeria the crown of the chef who could cook for the longest unbroken period of time. Before him was chef, Hilda Bassey, a.k.a Hilda Baci who set a record 93 hours of cooking. And whose record Fisher broke to clinch the title. Now, Fisher has lost the crown barely two weeks after he benched Bassey, paving the way for Adebayo.

The new record holder studied Hotel Management at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede in Osun State, and he had his tutelage under his mother from who he inherited the name Maggie. He runs a chain of restaurants in Ogbomoso.