Hilda Baci set to cook world’s largest pot of jollof rice starting today at Eko Hotel
By Mary Akpan
Lagos — Nigeria’s culinary sensation, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, is set to attempt another record-breaking feat as she prepares to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on Friday, September 12, 2025.
The event, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., has already attracted massive attention, with more than 20,000 people registered to attend. Guests will be treated to free servings of the iconic West African delicacy as Baci leads her team in preparing what she promises will be the “biggest and most delicious pot of jollof ever made.” According to organisers, about 250 bags of rice and several tons of spices, meat, and vegetables will go into the mega dish.
Baci, who rose to global fame in 2023 after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, has continued to use her platform to celebrate Nigerian cuisine and promote food tourism. Her earlier cook-a-thon in Lagos not only won international recognition but also inspired a wave of cooking marathons across Nigeria and beyond.
Friday’s event is being positioned as more than just a record attempt. It is also a cultural festival showcasing music, dance, and the communal spirit Nigerians are known for. Organisers say the initiative is aimed at promoting unity through food, boosting Nigeria’s global culinary reputation, and supporting local farmers who supplied the produce for the cook-off.
If successful, Baci’s latest culinary adventure could secure yet another Guinness World Record for Nigeria and further cement her status as one of Africa’s most influential chefs.
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