Hilda Baci steals spotlight for ‘daring’ world’s largest pot of Jollof Rice

•Chef cooks 200 bags of atom astatine once

By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The Federal Government has applauded personage chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known arsenic Hilda Baci, for her bold effort to navigator the world’s largest cookware of Jollof Rice.

The feat, staged astatine the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, nether the banner “Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci,” attracted much than 20,000 registered participants who trooped retired to witnesser the historical moment.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the custom-made pot, built implicit 3 months successful South-West Nigeria, measures astir six metres successful width with a capableness of 22,619 litres. Originally designed to clasp 5,000 kilogrammes (250 bags) of basmati rice, weighing constraints forced organisers to standard down to 4,000 kilogrammes (200 bags).

Despite the excitement, the lawsuit was not without drama. The monolithic cookware reportedly caved successful during the weighing process, arsenic a crane effort to assistance it caused structural stress. Its legs buckled and the screen loosened, prompting information concerns. Nevertheless, thousands of servings of Jollof atom were successfully distributed to attendees.

Government officials astatine the venue lauded Hilda Baci’s resilience and innovation, describing her effort arsenic a testament to Nigerian creativity and determination. As astatine property time, Guinness World Records was yet to corroborate the caller record, but the certification process is said to beryllium ongoing.

Baci changeable into the limelight successful 2023 aft she shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, clocking 93 hours and 11 minutes. But alternatively than bask successful the glory, she nursed a caller ambition: to elevate Nigerian cuisine by creating the world’s largest cookware of Jollof rice.

“After my cookathon, the thought of doing thing with Jollof to observe Nigerian cuisine and nationalist pridefulness has been connected my mind,” she told journalists astatine the event. “This is not conscionable a grounds attempt; it is simply a solemnisation of our culture. Importantly, the servings are free. This is astir assemblage and solemnisation alternatively than profit.”

Before lighting up the burners, Hilda rolled up her sleeves to personally scrub the elephantine reddish pot. “Yes, I tin officially corroborate this cookware is squeaky clean. I washed it myself,” she announced connected her societal media handles. Moments later, she held a abbreviated but affectional supplication league with Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church to bless the attempt.

For Hilda, the “World Jollof” feat is astir much than numbers. It is simply a connection of Nigeria’s culinary ingenuity and a rallying constituent for nationalist pride. “This is simply a solemnisation and a mode to enactment Nigerian nutrient connected the map,” she said.

The station Hilda Baci steals spotlight for ‘daring’ world’s largest cookware of Jollof Rice appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.