Why I Reduced the Bags of Rice I Cooked from 250 to 200 Bags – Hilda Baci

Nigerian celebrity chef and former Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has shed light on why she reduced the quantity of rice used in her latest record-breaking attempt for the largest serving of Nigerian jollof.

Initially planned at 250 bags of rice, Baci explained that the quantity was cut down to 200 bags for safety and technical reasons. Speaking to newsmen at the venue, she noted that the custom-built crane and measuring scale designed for the feat could only support 20,000 kilogrammes.

“If you noticed, when we started, we weighed the pot, and we also need to weigh every single ingredient that goes into it when we’re done,” she explained. “The goal was to cook about 5,000 kilogrammes of food and eventually achieve between 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes in total. With the pot included, that brings us close to 20,000. To keep things safe and manageable, I had to cut down slightly on the rice. Instead of 250 bags, we used 200—which is still 4,000 kilogrammes of rice. That’s enough to feed 20,000 people.”

Describing the project as her most ambitious yet, Baci revealed that the preparations took nearly a year. “Honestly, planning this with Gino was hectic. It took Mr. Ayo two months just to design and fabricate the giant pots, and about nine months in total to organize the entire event. Cooking the meal itself took almost nine hours,” she said.

Beyond breaking records, Baci emphasized that her greatest motivation was to unite people and provide food for as many as possible. “I mean, just look around—there are so many of you here. Some even came with coolers, so it was important to make sure everyone ate. We’re feeding the nation,” she added with a smile.

The event attracted a huge turnout, with food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries coming together to witness the attempt. Notable attendees included Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, who all came to show their support.