Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has celebrated after receiving her second Guinness World Record plaque.
Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has celebrated after receiving her second Guinness World Record plaque.
Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci, also known as Hilda Bassey, has confirmed that the giant pot used in her record-breaking feat will neither be sold nor auctioned.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday hosted at the Gino Nigeria office in Lagos, Hilda said the pot had become more than just cookware, describing it as a national and global symbol.
“Oh, you may not have heard of it. Oh, trust me, so many people have asked about that pot. Some people want to buy it, they said we should auction it,” she told reporters.
Hilda explained that the pot represents history, faith, and innovation, highlighting the painstaking effort that went into putting it together.
“That (pot) is a symbol of a lot of beautiful things. It’s a symbol of history. It’s a symbol of faith. It’s a symbol of innovation. Because, trust me, the process of putting that pot together, you know, it’s a symbol of many things,” she noted.
Hilda added that she and her team want the pot to remain a source of inspiration for years to come.
“I think we agree that this is something that we want 10 years from now, 20 years from now, for people to still be able to see and point to.
“I think that was the biggest pot of jollof rice in Nigeria. In the world, not just Nigeria, because it’s been established for the first time.
“I mean, right now, I can tell you we’re definitely not going to auction it,” she stressed.
The record-breaking chef revealed that the pot would eventually be restored to its original form and displayed for public viewing.
“We’re not going to sell it. We’re going to make sure that as many people as possible get to see it in its glory.
“And you’re probably going to ask me, are you going to keep it in that shape, no?
“We’re going to put it back in a form that it originally was. And, I don’t know, you’ll find it maybe on your way to work or in a museum somewhere,” Baci said.
626Blaze had earlier reported that Hilda set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).
The record, achieved in partnership with Gino on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Victoria Island, Lagos, was officially confirmed by Guinness.
“New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria,” the global body announced on X (formerly Twitter).
Hilda, who rose to fame with her 2023 cook-a-thon where she cooked for over 100 hours, once again brought global attention to Nigerian cuisine with the jollof feat.
The Lagos event attracted a carnival-like crowd of supporters, celebrities, and food lovers.
Before the attempt, Hilda had revealed that the custom-made pot designed for the challenge had a capacity of 22,619 litres, with her target set at filling it up to 80 per cent with 250 bags of rice.
She later disclosed that 200 bags of rice were used for the record-setting attempt, noting that the crane and weighing scale could only accommodate up to 20,000 kilogrammes, including the weight of the pot itself.
Notable personalities at the venue included Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, Ogun First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, dancer Kaffy, Veekee James, Tacha, Papaya, Enioluwa, Alex Unusual, Spyro, and others.
Social commentator and good governance advocate Bello Galadanci, popularly known as Dan Bello, has stirred controversy after criticizing Chef Hilda Baci’s recent Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice.
Dan Bello described the Guinness record feet that drew over 20,000 audience as a distraction from Nigeria’s pressing development challenges.
Writing on his X handle, he mocked the event, saying Nigeria has “finally found its destiny, not in science, not in technology, but in a steaming pot of Guinness-certified rice.”
He argued that while other nations were making strides in artificial intelligence, space technology, and infrastructure, Nigerians were busy celebrating a giant pot of rice.
He also accused the government of being unhappy, not because of the cooking itself, but because the food was freely given to ordinary citizens.
“Hunger is the only local content Nigeria has perfected,” he wrote in a satirical tone.
His remarks immediately triggered mixed reactions online.
Chioma Eze, an X user, defended Hilda Baci, saying: “The Guinness record attempt does not stop Nigeria from developing in science or technology. She’s a chef, doing her thing, just like entertainers or athletes do worldwide.”
Another user, Musa Ibrahim, argued that Nigerians were too quick to criticize: “Hilda is just one person out of over 200 million doing what she loves. Many who attended were not poor—they were fans, friends, and even celebrities supporting her.”
But others sided with Dan Bello, questioning the priorities of young Nigerians. A commentator, Aisha Suleiman, said: “Over 20,000 gathered for rice, some till 5 a.m., but cannot come out to demand good governance or protest killings and kidnappings in the country.”
Similarly, Kingsley Adeyemi described the hype as overrated: “Nigeria needs real progress like infrastructure, not cooking stunts. Hunger won’t end with a big pot of rice.”
The debate continues online between those who see Baci’s effort as an inspiring moment and those who view it as a symbol of misplaced priorities in a struggling nation.