By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
CROWDS WATCH history unfold at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on 12th September 2025 when celebrity chef Hilda Baci cooked what she described as the largest pot of jollof rice ever attempted.
The Guinness World Record feat, which attracted thousands of supporters, food lovers and fans, has now been detailed further by the chef herself in a TikTok video shared via her handle @hildabacion.
According to Baci, the monumental pot required extraordinary quantities of rice, oil, meat, spices and seasoning, carefully measured and executed by her team.
She disclosed that the attempt used 4,000kg of washed basmati rice, 612kg of oil, 800kg of Gino Asun peppered chicken and party jollof, 600kg of her signature jollof pepper mix, and 220kg of Gino Asun and peppered chicken cubes.
Additional seasonings included 20g of Gino curry and 7g of Gino thyme. To balance the blend, 300kg of onion, garlic and ginger mix were added, alongside 164kg of fresh goat meat.
The effort required 1,200kg of gas to power the cooking.
The chef stated that it took nine hours of continuous fire, effort and teamwork to bring the dish to completion, serving no fewer than 16,600 plates of jollof rice to participants and attendees.
She described the feat as a shared moment of joy, community and celebration of Nigeria’s culinary heritage.
Preparations for the historic cookout had begun weeks earlier. While the initial venue announced for the attempt was Muri Okunola Park, Lagos, Baci later relocated the event to Eko Hotel and Suites for logistical reasons.
Ahead of the main day, she and her team carried out a trial run to ensure that the process was seamless and that the record attempt could be executed without setbacks.
On the day of the event, the giant pot that would host the record meal was delivered to the venue by 4 a.m., signalling the beginning of what later became one of Nigeria’s most talked-about culinary events of the year.
The cookout drew thousands of spectators who gathered to witness the chef and her team prepare the massive dish, while others followed updates across media platforms.
Reflecting on the feat, Baci emphasised that her focus extended beyond the sheer scale of the food prepared. In her words, “It wasn’t just about rice and pepper; it was about joy, love, and community.”
She explained that the record attempt symbolised teamwork, resilience and the strength of Nigeria’s culinary culture, which continues to inspire global recognition.
