Former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has showered praises on celebrity chef Hilda Baci for her bold Guinness World Record attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
In a heartfelt post shared via his verified Instagram handle on Saturday, Osinbajo described the cooking feat as a strong reminder that greatness often starts from the most ordinary places — even something as familiar as a pot of rice.
“@hildabaci reminded us yesterday, that greatness can begin in the simplest of places, even in a pot of rice,” Osinbajo wrote.
He went further to commend Baci for turning jollof rice — Nigeria’s beloved national dish — into a global story, saying her cook-a-thon was a creative expression of Nigerian identity and culture.
“She turned jollof, our beloved national treasure, into a story that carried Nigeria’s culture to the world,” he added.
The former Vice President said the effort went beyond simply preparing food. According to him, Hilda’s record attempt represented a deep cultural statement, showing that food can be a source of memory, pride, and identity.
“In the scale of her effort and in the generosity of its sharing, she proved that food is never just food. It is memory, it is pride, it is identity served to the world on a single plate.”
Osinbajo, who is known for promoting Nigerian innovation and talent, praised Baci’s creativity and courage, noting that her project reflected Nigeria’s growing influence in global culinary and cultural circles.
“She has shown us that creativity, like jollof, is one of Nigeria’s greatest exports,” he said, describing the feat as both ambitious and inspiring.
He also used the opportunity to inject humour into the age-old debate over the most cherished part of the jollof rice pot — the bottom.
“Some may say I am a little biased, but you see that smoky jollof at the bottom of the pot… that will always be the truth. Smoky jollof fans, gather here. If you know, you know,” he joked.
Hilda Baci, who first rose to national fame after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon in 2023, recently set another massive goal — preparing the largest pot of jollof rice ever recorded.
The event took place on September 12, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, where she cooked over 4,000 kilograms of rice, using hundreds of litres of oil, meat, pepper mix, and spices. The event attracted thousands of fans, government dignitaries, celebrities, and food lovers.
According to Baci, the meal fed more than 16,600 people, with the entire cooking process lasting 9 hours. Her mission, she said, was not just about cooking, but showcasing Nigerian culture, passion, and unity through food.
“It wasn’t just about rice and pepper; it was about joy, love, and community,” Hilda said after the event.
Osinbajo’s public praise adds to the growing list of voices hailing Baci’s efforts as a moment of national pride. Many Nigerians, both at home and abroad, have celebrated her for raising the country’s flag high on the global culinary stage.
Cultural commentators have described the jollof cookout as more than a Guinness record attempt — they see it as a celebration of Nigerian excellence, innovation, and hospitality.
While Guinness World Records is yet to release an official confirmation of the jollof rice record, the impact of Hilda’s latest feat has already gone far beyond numbers. For many, including Professor Osinbajo, it is a powerful story of what Nigerians can achieve with passion and purpose.
