Hilda Baci cooks largest jollof pot in Guinness Record attempt
Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has once again taken the global stage, completing her ambitious attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
The historic event, held on Saturday at Car Park B of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, drew tens of thousands of participants under the banner of the Gino World Jollof Festival.
Despite a dramatic moment when the giant pot collapsed on the fire, Baci pressed on and successfully prepared an astonishing 200 bags of rice in a specially designed 22,619-litre pot measuring six metres wide and six metres tall.
The feat, which lasted approximately nine hours, was celebrated as both a culinary and cultural triumph.
Following the completion, the rice was distributed freely to over 30,000 people in takeaway packs, with many attendees bringing their coolers to share in the excess food.
Government officials also lent their support. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, hailed Baci’s effort as a testament to Nigeria’s excellence on the global stage.
Represented by Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, the Minister encouraged Nigerian youth to emulate Baci’s creativity and resilience, channelling their talents into ventures that contribute to both personal growth and national pride.
The festival atmosphere was further heightened by the presence of Nigerian entertainers and influencers, including Funke Akindele, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, Enioluwa Adeoluwa and Tomike Adeoye, who joined the crowd in cheering on the chef.
Baci, already a Guinness World Record holder for her 2023 cook-a-thon, is now awaiting official verification from the Guinness World Records team on her latest attempt.
Should it be confirmed, Nigeria will once again etch its name into the record books, this time with the iconic jollof rice at the centre of the celebration.
