Connect with us

News

‘All Eyes On Hilda’ As Chef Attempts World Record For Biggest Pot Of Jollof Rice

Published

on

Hilda Baci in bid for largest pot of Jollof rice

Baci has reassured fans that the food would be “the most amazing, hygienic meal you’ve ever eaten.

Two years after her historic Guinness World Record for marathon cooking, Chef Hilda Baci is chasing yet another feat.

This time, the 28-year-old celebrity chef is set to cook what she calls the ”world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.”
The free event, tagged Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci, kicked off on Friday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Hilda announced earlier that over 20,000 participants had registered, with fans and celebrities already thronging the venue.
Long queues formed outside as attendees verified their registrations, while security tried to control the surging crowd.

The giant custom-made pot measures six metres wide and six metres tall, with a capacity of 22,619 litres.

Chef Hilda Baci in bid for the largest pot of Jollof rice
Initially, Hilda planned to use 5,000 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice, about 250 bags.
However, due to weighing challenges, she said she reduced it to 4,000 kilogrammes, or 200 bags.
She described the attempt as “history in the making,” adding that no guest would pay to enjoy the massive serving.

Ahead of the event, videos showed Hilda and her mother praying at the venue beside the towering pot.

In another clip, the chef climbed inside the giant cauldron to wash it herself, joking about her unusual cleaning position.

“Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean,” she wrote on Instagram. “I rolled up my sleeves and washed it myself.”
The chef reassured fans that the food would be “the most amazing, hygienic meal you’ve ever eaten.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOfXwIkiIn3/?igsh=Y2xydzV6MTJ1NTl2

Hilda also said she had dreamed of this challenge nearly two years ago, after her marathon cook ignited national pride.
“Now, with you, that dream is coming alive,” she wrote. “Because what is jollof without you to share it with?”

Behind The Giant Pot: What It Takes

Chef Hilda revealed that the massive pot was custom-fabricated in the Southwest, a process that lasted nearly three months.
She explained that sourcing the materials alone took about two months, while assembling and testing the giant pods took another month.
She estimated the rice would expand to 14,000–16,000 kilogrammes once cooked, feeding tens of thousands.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOc_yjBjYjQ/?igsh=MThjMmZ6aWJqb2k5Ng==

Despite the scale, Hilda insisted the recipe would retain its Nigerian flavour.
She said she applied “mathematics and eyeballing” to balance quantities, adjusting seasoning as the cooking progressed.
The jollof, she added, would feature turkey stock, turkey bits, and horse meat for richness.
Ingredients
The cooking will use 1,000 kilogrammes of tomato paste (about 500 cartons, with 200 cartons each of different Gino variants), 600 kilogrammes of onions, and 750 kilogrammes of vegetable oil.
She will also use Fresh cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, basil, garlic, ginger, and other spices.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNz53C4Ws37/?igsh=d2Nwcnpra2lzazht

According to her, the result would be “a very robust and very expensive pot of Gino Asun-Jollof rice.”
In May 2023, Hilda became a household name when she completed a 100-hour cooking marathon in Lagos.

Chef Hilda Baci during her marathon cooking adventure at the Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos. Credit: GWR

 

Hilda attempted this record to “put Nigerian cuisine on the map” and “to inspire young African women to chase their dreams.”
GWR stated that Baci’s cook-a-thon was so popular that its website crashed for two days due to the unprecedented volume of traffic.
Several high-profile Nigerian figures visited Hilda to support her during her record attempt. She also received support from then-President Muhammadu Buhari, then Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; and award-winning singer Tiwa Savage.
The record-breaking attempt also sparked a wave of Guinness challenges across Nigeria, boosting her status as a food influencer.
Now, she hopes to etch her name once again in culinary history with the biggest pot of jollof rice ever made.

This video grab shows an official adjudicator, Mark McKinley, of the Guinness World Records, with the certificate of Chef Hilda Baci as record holder for the longest cooking record. Beside the video grab is an image of Hilda Baci during her cook-a-thon at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lago,s in May 2023

 

 

Business

Fuel price hike: Gov Makinde announces N10,000 transport support for workers

Published

on

 

The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance as a palliative for the state workforce to cushion the effects of the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State chapter, Kayode Martins, in a statement released on Monday, March 23, disclosed that the governor has granted the request of the union on the issue of transportation allowance.

The statement read

“Following the intervention and formal request made by the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) earlier this morning, the state government has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance for all workers in the state.

The newly approved allowance is set to take effect from April 2026, providing much-needed relief to workers grappling with rising transportation costs amid current economic challenges.

This development comes as a direct response to sustained advocacy by the state NLC, aimed at cushioning the impact of increased living expenses on the workforce.

Further details on implementation are expected to be communicated by the relevant government authorities in due course.”

Continue Reading

News

Former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation bags 72years imprisonment for diverting N868.46 million security funds

Published

on

 

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, March 23, convicted and sentenced Chukwunyere Nwabuoku, former acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF), to a 72-year jail term without an option of fine.

DailyTrust reports that in the judgment delivered, Justice Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been able to prove the nine-count money laundering charge beyond reasonable doubt.

According to the judge, the defendant is hereby convicted as charged.

Justice Omotosho convicted Nwabuoku in all the nine counts and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment in each of the counts, making 72 years.

The judge, however, ordered that the counts shall run concurrently.

Justice Omotosho, who described Nwabuoku’s act of diverting funds meant for security and defence while he served as Director of Finance and Account in the Ministry of Defence as “appalling,” commended the EFCC for being detailed in its prosecution.

The judge observed that the evidence of the 9th prosecution witness that Nwabuoku voluntarily refunded part of the siphoned money of over N200 million during investigation was not controverted by the defence.

Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. He became acting Accountant General of the Federation in May 2022.

Continue Reading

News

11 more arrested over Ozoro “r@ping festival”

Published

on

The police in Delta state have arrested eleven more suspects over the sexu@l ass@ults recorded during what was described as a “r@ping festival” in Oramudu Quarters in Ozoro last Thursday, March 19.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 21, the spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, said the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) was tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into the incident.

Edafe said operatives of CP-SAT conducted a thorough analysis of available video evidence and intelligence, leading to the arrest of eleven additional suspects identified as Samson Atukpodo, Steven ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, Evidence Oguname, and six others. Edafe mentioned that these latest arrests bring the total number of suspects currently in police custody in connection with the incident to fifteen (15)

“The Command reiterates that preliminary findings indicate that the unfortunate incident was perpetrated by criminal elements who exploited the situation to engage in acts of sexu@l v!olence, which are in no way representative of any legitimate cultural practice.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Aina Adesola, condemns these acts in totality and reassures the public that the Command remains resolute in its determination to ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. Members of the public, particularly victims and witnesses, are once again encouraged to come forward with credible information that will aid ongoing investigations. The Command assures that all information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality.”the statement in part reads

Continue Reading

Trending