Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has explained why she reduced the quantity of rice she plans to cook from 250 bags to 200 bags in her latest bid to set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
The ambitious culinary event, tagged the Gino World Jollof Festival, kicked off at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, drawing a large crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries. The custom-built pot measures six meters wide and six meters tall with a capacity of 22,619 liters—one of the largest cooking vessels ever assembled on Nigerian soil.
Speaking to newsmen at the venue, Baci revealed the adjustment was a technical decision. The weighing crane and scale, essential for validating the world record, have a maximum weight limit of 20,000 kilograms, including the weight of the custom-made pot itself. The initial plan to cook 250 bags of rice risked exceeding this limit.
“I weighed the pot and everything that would go into it. The scale can only carry 20,000 kilograms, so it was safer to reduce the rice weight to below that threshold,” Baci said.
Despite scaling down, the 200 bags of rice still amount to 4,000 kilograms, enough to feed an estimated 20,000 people. Baci assured that this remains a monumental feat and a historic moment for Nigerian cuisine and culture.
The event has taken on the feel of a festival, featuring live music, dancing, and appearances from notable figures like Nollywood actress Funke Akindele and dancer Kaffy. It required nearly a year of preparation, including two months to fabricate the massive pot and nine hours of continuous cooking to complete the rice.
In a show of national pride and enthusiastic support, the Federal Government commended Baci’s efforts as a testament to Nigerian creativity and global excellence. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, expressed hope that this event would inspire more young Nigerians to channel their talents for personal and national development.
Baci described the project as her most ambitious and rewarding career undertaking, emphasizing teamwork and community spirit as core to its success.
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