By Gideon Maxwell
September 12, 2025
The Guinness World Records has thrown its weight behind Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci as she embarks on an ambitious bid to cook the largest pot of Nigerian-style jollof rice in Lagos on Friday.
“What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice today,” Guinness World Records posted on X late Friday, as Baci launched her latest record attempt in the city.
The ambitious bid, staged at the Eko Hotel car park under the banner of the Gino World Jollof Festival, has drawn massive public attention. More than 20,000 people registered to witness the spectacle, forcing organisers to move the event from Muri Okunola Park to the larger venue.
At the centre of it all is a custom-built steel cauldron, about six metres wide and six metres deep, capable of holding thousands of servings, and into it go staggering quantities of ingredients, between 200 and 250 bags of rice (roughly 4,000–5,000 kilograms), hundreds of cartons of tomato paste, hundreds of kilograms of onions, and drums of oil.
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Baci, who rose to global prominence in 2023 with her 100-hour cook-a-thon, says this latest challenge is about more than breaking records, it is designed to celebrate Nigeria’s cultural heritage, showcase its most iconic dish, and position the country on the global culinary stage.
The event opened with fanfare: celebrities, faith leaders, and Baci’s family joined thousands of fans as the first sacks of rice and oil were poured into the pot.
Government representatives also lent their support, hailing the attempt as a boost for tourism and a platform to promote national pride.
Safety and hygiene have been central to preparations, as organisers stressed that the rice was washed and packaged in batches before being cooked, with strict handling procedures in place, and once ready, the jollof rice will be served to attendees and distributed widely.
While Guinness World Records has publicly acknowledged the bid and sent encouragement, official recognition will only come after its adjudicators review documentation and confirm that all requirements have been met, a process that could take weeks.
For now, Hilda Baci’s giant pot of jollof rice is stirring more than food: it is stirring pride, conversation, and renewed global curiosity about Nigeria’s culinary power.
