Lagos: Fans, well-wishers, media crews, and food vendors gathered at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos for Nigerian Chef Hilda Baci’s bid to set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Pot of Jollof Rice.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, there was a crowd awaiting entry into the venue before 8.30 a.m., and fans were granted entry into the venue at 9.20 a.m. NAN also reports that as of 1.30 p.m., the cooking had not started. Baci had earlier stated that over 20,000 people registered to attend the event.

The chef plans to cook 250 bags of rice in a massive 22,619-litre pot, which will be served to attendees. The atmosphere was festive as food vendors had already set up their stalls, offering popular Nigerian delicacies, snacks, and drinks from different ethnic groups. Content creators and influencers roamed the venue, which had turned into a mini food fair, with cameras and phones capturing the energy of the crowd.

The crowd grew more excited when the music came on at 12.56 p.m., with many observed dancing. Security operatives and paramedics were stationed across the venue to maintain order and ensure safety during the event.

Nigerian actor, Charles Born, expressed his excitement to witness Baci make history. According to Born, he is the chef’s friend and knows her to be a go-getter. “I’m really excited for my friend and one thing about Hilda is that once she’s convinced about something, she does it. I love the energy I’m seeing. Everybody is excited. Everybody is waiting. People are eating. Our food is getting more attention,” he said.

The Creative Director of BAT Events and Chops, Blessing Okechukwu, expressed her excitement at being part of what she described as a historic event. Okechukwu, one of the vendors, said it was more than Jollof Rice for her but a moment of pride dishing out a taste of Nigeria’s unity and vibrancy to the world.

Baci, who rose to international prominence with her Guinness World Record tagged, ‘Cook-a-thon’, in 2023, is aiming to add another achievement to her culinary expertise with this attempt. Jollof rice is a dish often associated with cultural pride for countries including Nigeria and Ghana.