By Ayomide Otitoju
Celebrity chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has officially received her Guinness World Records (GWR) plaque for preparing the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice. The 29-year-old unveiled the plaque on Thursday, donning her signature white chef outfit in a kitchen setting.
Announcing the milestone on Instagram, Hilda shared images of her new plaque alongside her 2023 record for the longest cookathon, expressing pride and gratitude. “Our plaques are finally here! Two records. Two plaques. One story of faith, fire, and history… Twice, we made history for Nigeria,” she wrote, highlighting her collaboration with Gino Nigeria, which she said created a global impact.
Hilda, now a two-time world record holder, quoted Isaiah 61:7 in celebration, reflecting on her journey and achievement. Guinness World Records also congratulated her in response to her social media post.
Her latest record was achieved on September 12, 2025, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci. Over eight hours, she cooked 8,780 kilograms of Nigerian-style jollof rice in a six-metre-wide steel pot, using 4,000 kg of basmati rice, 500 cartons of tomato concentrate, 750 kg of cooking oil, and 600 kg of onions.
Initially planning to use 250 bags of rice, Hilda reduced the quantity to 200 bags to stay within a 20,000-kilogram limit for safe weighing. A tense moment arose when the massive pot, hoisted by a crane, shifted slightly, but the team successfully stabilized it. The jollof rice was later packed into takeaway portions for over 20,000 attendees.
The event drew celebrities and public figures, including Funke Akindele, Bambam, Tomike Adeoye, Alex Unusual, Peller, Spyro, and Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, accompanied by music, dancing, and live DJ performances.
On September 15, 2025, Guinness World Records officially confirmed Hilda’s achievement, noting her compliance with all record requirements, including proper ingredient ratios and food distribution to avoid waste.
Reflecting on the experience, Hilda said, “It didn’t realise it would be this hard… achieving the record is truly satisfying. This record also belongs to the people of Nigeria.” She emphasized that her accomplishment was about more than records—it was about feeding the nation and showcasing Nigerian culture to the world.
This latest feat follows her 2023 viral cookathon, where she spent 93 hours and 11 minutes cooking in Lekki, Lagos, setting her first Guinness World Record.
