By Omodele Adigun
Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci, also known as Hilda Bassey, has confirmed that the giant pot used in her record-breaking feat will neither be sold nor auctioned.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday hosted at the Gino Nigeria office in Lagos, Hilda said the pot had become more than just cookware, describing it as a national and global symbol.
“Oh, you may not have heard of it. Oh, trust me, so many people have asked about that pot. Some people want to buy it, they said we should auction it,” she told reporters.
Hilda explained that the pot represents history, faith, and innovation, highlighting the painstaking effort that went into putting it together.
“That (pot) is a symbol of a lot of beautiful things. It’s a symbol of history. It’s a symbol of faith. It’s a symbol of innovation. Because, trust me, the process of putting that pot together, you know, it’s a symbol of many things,” she noted.
Hilda added that she and her team want the pot to remain a source of inspiration for years to come.
“I think we agree that this is something that we want 10 years from now, 20 years from now, for people to still be able to see and point to.
“I think that was the biggest pot of jollof rice in Nigeria. In the world, not just Nigeria, because it’s been established for the first time.
“I mean, right now, I can tell you we’re definitely not going to auction it,” she stressed.
The record-breaking chef revealed that the pot would eventually be restored to its original form and displayed for public viewing.
“We’re not going to sell it. We’re going to make sure that as many people as possible get to see it in its glory.
“And you’re probably going to ask me, are you going to keep it in that shape, no?
“We’re going to put it back in a form that it originally was. And, I don’t know, you’ll find it maybe on your way to work or in a museum somewhere,” Baci said.
It was gathered that Hilda set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).
The record, achieved in partnership with Gino on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Victoria Island, Lagos, was officially confirmed by Guinness.
“New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria,” the global body announced on X (formerly Twitter).
Hilda, who rose to fame with her 2023 cook-a-thon where she cooked for over 100 hours, once again brought global attention to Nigerian cuisine with the jollof feat.
The Lagos event attracted a carnival-like crowd of supporters, celebrities, and food lovers.
Before the attempt, Hilda had revealed that the custom-made pot designed for the challenge had a capacity of 22,619 litres, with her target set at filling it up to 80 per cent with 250 bags of rice.
She later disclosed that 200 bags of rice were used for the record-setting attempt, noting that the crane and weighing scale could only accommodate up to 20,000 kilogrammes, including the weight of the pot itself.
Notable personalities at the venue included Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, Ogun First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, dancer Kaffy, Veekee James, Tacha, Papaya, Enioluwa, Alex Unusual, Spyro, and others.
I appreciate the honesty and openness in your writing.