By Deborah Nnamdi
Celebrity chef Hilda Baci on Saturday etched her name further into Nigeria’s culinary history after successfully cooking what is being celebrated as the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
The feat, carried out at the car park of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, formed part of the Gino World Jollof Festival and was aimed at setting a new Guinness World Record. The 28-year-old chef prepared about 200 bags of rice in a custom-made pot measuring 22,619 litres, six metres wide and six metres tall, completing the massive dish in just under nine hours.
Although she initially planned to cook 250 bags of Basmati rice, Baci told reporters she reduced it to 200 bags due to weighing and crane limitations, noting that the pot and its contents already weighed close to 20,000 kilogrammes—the maximum the scale could carry.
“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice is 200 bags, and it will still feed 20,000 people, so we’re still up there,” she explained. “It’s safer to go below 20,000 kilogrammes so the scale can carry it all at once. Honestly, this has been my most ambitious project yet. It took nearly a year of planning and about nine hours of cooking.”
In the end, the rice was more than enough to feed the crowd. Over 30,000 people received takeaway packs, while others were encouraged to bring their coolers as food remained in excess.
The Federal Government hailed the culinary achievement, describing it as another testament to Nigeria’s global excellence. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a goodwill message delivered by Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, said Baci’s record-breaking quest was an inspiration.
“We encourage more young Nigerians to channel their creativity and talents into ventures that will not only benefit them personally but also contribute to national development and global recognition,” Idris said.
The event drew massive attendance, including celebrities, food enthusiasts, and dignitaries. Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, influencers Enioluwa Adeoluwa and Tomike Adeoye, reality star Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun, were among those present.
Baci said beyond the world record, her motivation was to bring people together and share Nigeria’s iconic dish.
“I mean, have you looked around? There are a lot of you. Some of you came with your cooler, so we need to make sure everybody’s fed. We’re feeding the nation,” she said with a smile.
