Esther Imonmion
Lagos is set to witness history on Friday, September 12, as Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci takes on a daring new challenge — cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
Organisers confirmed on Thursday that the event, originally scheduled for Muri Okunola Park, has been moved to the expansive Car Park B of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, to accommodate the growing crowd. More than 20,000 people have already registered to attend the free-to-enter festival.
The centrepiece of the attempt is a specially constructed giant cooking pot, measuring six metres in width, 1.1 metres in height and 1.3 metres in depth. Built in Gbagada and transported under heavy escort in the early hours of the week, the pot has a capacity of over 22,000 litres and will be filled with 250 bags of rice to prepare Nigeria’s most famous dish.
Baci, who won global acclaim with her Guinness World Record marathon cooking feat in 2023, said the project is aimed at celebrating Nigerian cuisine on the world stage. “This is not just about size; it is about showcasing our culture and uniting people through food,” she said.
Officials of Guinness World Records are expected to supervise the attempt, which, if successful, will put Nigeria firmly at the centre of Africa’s ongoing “jollof wars” while delivering another proud moment for the country’s culinary heritage.