Nigerian celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, has successfully completed her Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice, drawing national and international attention to Lagos.
The event, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw the Akwa Ibom-born chef cook an enormous dish with 4,000 kilograms of basmati rice, 500 cartons of tomato concentrate, 750 kilograms of oil, and 600 kilograms of onions. The meal was prepared in a custom-made steel pot measuring six metres in diameter, one of the largest ever built for a culinary record attempt.
Originally, Baci planned to cook 250 bags of rice but reduced the figure to 200 bags to stay within the 20,000-kilogram weight limit of the measuring equipment.
She was assisted by ten team members dressed in red uniforms, who worked tirelessly with giant paddles to stir the massive pot. The atmosphere was festive, with DJs, live music, and comedy keeping the audience entertained throughout the record attempt.
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The record attempt coincided with the Gino World Jollof Festival, which attracted a wide range of high-profile guests. Among them were Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, Nollywood star Funke Akindele, media personalities Bambam, Tomike Adeoye, Alex Unusual, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, TikTok sensation Peller, and Afrobeats singer Spyro.
While addressing the cheering crowd, Funke Akindele praised Baci’s determination and urged women to pursue bold dreams. “You can look beautiful, but you must hustle and do something special for yourself,” she said.
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The Federal Government also commended the effort. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Baci’s quest as “another demonstration of Nigeria’s global excellence.”
At one point, the chef was visibly emotional as she scrolled through online messages of support. She broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the encouragement pouring in from Nigerians across the world.
Beyond breaking records, the attempt spotlighted jollof rice as a symbol of West African pride. Nigeria and Ghana have long claimed supremacy in the “jollof wars,” and Baci’s feat placed Nigeria firmly at the centre of the conversation.
Her effort, many say, represents not only a triumph of culinary creativity but also a statement about ambition, resilience, and national pride.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
