Hilda Baci, Nigeria’s record-breaking chef and culinary queen, is set to make history again by cooking the world’s largest pot of Jollof rice.
Tagged Gino World Jollof Festival, the highly anticipated event will take place on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Here is all you need to know about the event.
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Location
Following a venue change from Muri Okunola Park, the festival will now take place at Eko Hotel, Car Park B, Lagos. According to organizers, the relocation was necessary to accommodate the expected large turnout while also ensuring the safety of attendees. The new venue provides a central position and additional space for both the cooking demonstration and the cultural activities.
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Free Entry with Registration
Attendance at the festival is free, but expected guests were required to register online in advance. Registration links have been widely shared through Hilda Baci’s official channels as well as Gino Nigeria’s platforms. Organizers have reported an overwhelming number of sign-ups, and thousands of people are expected to attend the historic celebration.
Over 10,000 People Are Expected
At the heart of the festival will be the record-breaking attempt. Hilda and her team have commissioned a specially made pot with a staggering capacity of over 22,000 litres. To fill it, she plans to cook with about 250 bags of basmati rice, along with tomato paste, peppers, spices, and seasonings on an industrial scale.
According to Hilda, the specially designed pot for the challenge has a capacity of 22,619 litres, and her target is to fill it up to at least 80 per cent.
“My goal is to fill this pot up by at least 75 to 80 per cent. That means I will need about 5,278 kilograms of raw basmati rice to achieve the yield,” she said.
The result? A single pot of jollof rice big enough to feed up to 10,000 people. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste the dish once the record attempt is completed, making it not just a visual spectacle but also a shared community experience.
A Day of Food, Culture, and Entertainment
The Gino World Jollof Festival is more than just a cooking event. It promises to be a vibrant cultural celebration featuring:
Food exhibitions and tastings
Live entertainment and performances
Cultural showcases and interactive activities
Brand activations and media coverage
The festival has been designed as a family-friendly event that celebrates Nigeria’s culinary heritage while bringing people together over one of the country’s most beloved dishes, Jollof rice.
Why It Matters
For Hilda Baci, this is another major milestone in her journey as a chef and cultural icon. She rose to international fame in 2023 after her Guinness World Record-breaking cook-a-thon, which earned global recognition and inspired millions across Africa and beyond. With this new challenge, she aims not only to etch her name into history again but also to spotlight jollof rice as a symbol of Nigerian identity and pride.
The event also highlights the power of food to unite communities. Beyond the numbers and the record, the world’s largest Jollof rice pot is a celebration of togetherness, culture, and the enduring legacy of Nigerian cuisine.
Final Notes for Attendees
Guests are advised to arrive early because large crowds are expected. Security and crowd control measures will be in place, and official updates on timing and logistics will be provided on Hilda Baci’s and Gino’s social media accounts.
For both Lagosians and visitors, September 12, 2025, promises to be a day when history, culture, and food come together spectacularly.
