Celebrity chef Hilda Baci officially kicked off her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice on Friday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Partnering with seasoning brand Gino, she is staging the “Gino Jollof Festival.” The pot she will use is custom made and measures six metres in both width and height. Organisers plan to cook with 250 bags of rice.
Given the large turnout of those who registered—over 20,000 people—the venue was changed from Muri Okunola Park to the larger Eko Hotel to accommodate safety and comfort.
The gathering is free for all, and attendees are not charged for the jollof rice meal.
Before igniting the burners, Hilda Baci and her mother held a moment of prayer seeking strength and protection.
The lead pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu, also prayed over the event and blessed the cook.
The massive pot being used weighs between 1,425 kg and 1,430 kg. Social media personalities including Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Tomike Adeoye, Folagade Banks, and Veekee James were present to show support.
Hilda Baci is a former Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon, and she has assured attendees that the jollof rice will be prepared under high hygiene standards and with excellent taste.
This effort aims to set a new world record for the largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.