**Hilda Baci Fires Back at Claims Her Partner Made Her Successful**

Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has responded to claims that her success was made possible by her partner, Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, saying such comments are sometimes upsetting and reveal how society views women and their achievements.

Baci addressed the issue in an interview shared by Goldmyne TV, after comments online suggested that her relationship with the music executive played a major role in making her successful. Rather than accepting the narrative, the chef pointed to the years of work and achievements that have shaped her public career.

##What Hilda Baci Said

Baci said she would not describe the comments as annoying, but admitted that they can be upsetting. According to her, the discussion reflects a wider mindset that still needs to change.

She also said the experience has made her more intentional about representing herself and other women.

“That’s why I’m so intentional about putting in so much effort in representing myself, representing women and just giving more women an opportunity to do better for themselves as well,” she said.

The comments come against the background of Baci's own achievements. She became internationally recognised after her 2023 cooking marathon and has since added more Guinness World Records, including recognition for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.

##Why People Are Debating Her Success

The debate has attracted attention because Baci is in a relationship with Akinwunmi, a music executive and entrepreneur who is the founder of Dapper Music and Dapper Group. His own profile and business connections have led some social media users to discuss the influence of their relationship on Baci's career.

However, being supported by a partner is different from saying that the partner created someone's success. Baci's response focuses on the second claim and the way it can overshadow the individual's own effort.

The conversation has therefore become bigger than one celebrity relationship. It touches on a familiar question about who receives credit when women achieve major career milestones.

##The Bigger Conversation About Women and Credit

Baci's comments have resonated with discussions about women having their achievements attributed to the men around them. The issue is not whether partners can provide encouragement, connections or support. They can. The question is whether that support should erase the work of the woman who built the achievement.

Baci has repeatedly placed her culinary identity at the centre of her public career, from her cooking business to record-breaking challenges and her growing influence as a chef and entrepreneur. Punch has also previously documented how she built her food brand and became known for her cooking long before the latest debate.

##A Viral Social Media Talk

The discussion has continued to attract attention because celebrity relationships often become part of the public conversation. Supporters of Baci's position argue that women should receive direct credit for the work they put into their careers, while the wider online debate continues to examine how much partners contribute to each other's success.

For Baci, however, the message appears clear: support from a partner can exist without making that partner the reason for a woman's accomplishments.

Her response has turned a comment about one celebrity relationship into a wider conversation about recognition, independence and how society gives credit to successful women.