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Event: Guinness World Record cook-off for the largest pot of jollof rice.
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Chef: Hilda Baci, Nigerian record-holding chef.
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Venue: Eko Hotels, Lagos.
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Pot Size: Custom-built, 22,619 litres, approx. 6 meters in diameter.
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Rice Quantity: About 250 bags of rice, aiming to fill the pot to 80% capacity.
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Other Ingredients: Large sacks of pepper, tomatoes, onions, gallons of vegetable oil, seasoning cubes, tomato purée, and more.
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Logistics: A large team is handling chopping, cleaning, unwrapping, and cooking duties.
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Beneficiaries: Food to be served to attendees and donated to charity.
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Impact: Event doubles as a community service initiative while showcasing Nigerian cuisine on a global stage.
The race to set a Guinness World Record for the largest pot of jollof rice has begun in Lagos, with celebrated chef Hilda Baci leading the monumental effort.
The event kicked off on Friday with the cleaning of a custom-built pot measuring about six meters in diameter and capable of holding 22,619 litres. The enormous vessel is designed to cook enough food to serve nearly 10,000 people once filled.
Preparations at the venue, Eko Hotels, have revealed the staggering amount of ingredients assembled for the challenge. Stacks of rice, bags of tomatoes and pepper, piles of onions, gallons of vegetable oil, cartons of seasoning cubes, and containers of tomato purée were seen, all in industrial quantities.
According to organisers, around 250 bags of rice will go into the pot, which will be filled to about 80% of its capacity. A large support team has been recruited to handle the labor-intensive tasks such as peeling, chopping, and mixing to keep the cooking process running smoothly.
But the effort goes beyond breaking records. The finished dish will be shared with attendees at the event, while a significant portion will be donated to charitable groups as part of the initiative’s community impact.
The record-setting cook-off blends culinary spectacle with social service, as Hilda Baci once again demonstrates the scale of ambition required to place Nigerian jollof rice on the global stage.
