Nigeria’s culinary star, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has once again captured national and global attention with a bold attempt to set a Guinness World Record (GWR) for cooking the largest pot of jollof rice.
Newsonspot reports that the event, which took place on Friday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, drew thousands of youths, food lovers, and celebrities eager to witness history in the making. The giant custom-built pot, fabricated in Gbagada and weighing about 1,430kg, was transported to the venue specifically for this feat.
In a late-night post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Guinness World Records acknowledged Baci’s attempt, wishing her success as the record now awaits final approval and certification.
“What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice today,” GWR wrote.
This latest challenge comes nearly two years after Baci shot to fame with her 93 hours 11 minutes cooking marathon, a record she initially held before losing it to Irish chef Alan Fisher.
Speaking to newsmen during the event, Baci revealed that she adjusted her plan from cooking 250 bags of rice to 200 bags due to the 20,000kg capacity limit of the weighing device.
“It is safer for me to go below 20,000 kilogrammes so that my scale can carry it all at the same time,” she explained.
In a dramatic twist, the massive pot reportedly broke during weighing in the early hours of Saturday, drawing gasps from the crowd. Fortunately, the food remained intact, and the spirited atmosphere at the venue remained undampened as supporters hailed Baci’s courage and determination.
Adding to the excitement, the Federal Government of Nigeria publicly endorsed Baci’s effort. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, praised her as a symbol of Nigerian excellence.
“Her dedication to excellence and her unrelenting pursuit of greatness exemplify the Nigerian spirit that the world has come to appreciate,” Idris said through Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, DG of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), who represented him at the event.
Despite the pot mishap, optimism remains high that Hilda Baci’s feat will secure Nigeria yet another spot in the Guinness World Records, further cementing her status as a culinary trailblazer.
