Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has shed light on why she reduced her target from 250 bags of rice to 200 in her latest attempt to set a new world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice.
The culinary marathon, which kicked off at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, turned into a festival-like celebration with music, dancing, and appearances by stars such as Funke Akindele, Kaffy, and Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Baci explained that the adjustment was purely for technical reasons. The measuring crane and scale used for the record could not exceed 20,000 kilogrammes, including the custom pot’s weight.
“We had to weigh the pot at the start, and the final dish must also be weighed. My initial goal of 250 bags would have pushed the total weight beyond the 20,000 kg limit. To avoid that, I scaled down by about 1,000 kg, which brought us safely within the range,” she said.
Despite the reduction, the effort still produced 4,000 kilogrammes of rice (200 bags), enough to feed about 20,000 people.
Describing the feat as the most ambitious of her career, Baci revealed that it took nearly a year of planning — including two months to design the giant pot and nine months of preparation for the event. The cooking itself lasted almost nine hours.
Though stressful, she called the process rewarding:
“It was challenging but very exciting. We’re not done yet because the food has to be shared, but I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Interestingly, Baci clarified that the project was not originally intended as a Guinness World Record attempt, but as a way to celebrate food and community.
“Honestly, I didn’t start this thinking about records. For me, it was about creating an experience and ensuring as many people as possible could eat together,” she said.
