Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has started 2026 on an extraordinary note, officially joining the elite club of multiple Guinness World Record holders. What began as a mission to serve the largest pot of Nigerian-style jollof rice in September 2025 has now doubled in recognition, earning her an additional record for the largest serving of rice overall.
Baci broke the news via Instagram, updating her bio to read: “Chef X3 Guinness World Record Holder.” In her post, she shared her excitement, saying, “Woke up a three-time Guinness World Records holder and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. What a way to step into 2026!”
From One Record to Two
The Guinness World Records team, through Andrew Fanning, Head of Client Partnering – Records Creative Team, officially confirmed the dual recognition.
“Congratulations, you are Officially Amazing (again)! When you and your team achieved the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, you also accomplished the record for the largest serving of rice,” Fanning wrote in an email to Baci.
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The moment caught Baci off guard. She revealed, “This morning, I was casually scrolling through my emails when I saw the message. I was shocked and happy at the same time. Five months after the initial announcement, I was just discovering there was more.”
What she initially thought was a single record now counted as two, bringing her total Guinness accolades to three.
Her September 2025 achievement involved preparing 8,780 kilograms (19,356 pounds) of jollof rice at a Lagos cookout in partnership with Gino Nigeria. The feat set the world record for the largest pot of Nigerian-style jollof rice ever prepared and, as Guinness later confirmed, also qualified as the largest serving of rice overall.
Teamwork, Faith, and Culinary Mastery
Baci credited her team, particularly her long-time collaborator Oreoluwa Atinmo, for the accomplishment. “From idea to execution, side by side, fully aligned. This record wouldn’t have been possible without her,” she said.
She also expressed deep gratitude to God, highlighting the spiritual dimension of her journey. “Honestly, God is faithful. Even when you think you’ve seen the full picture, He can still say, ‘There’s more.’ What a blessing and a way to enter the new year,” Baci added.
Her Guinness milestones showcase not only her skill and endurance but also the ambition and scale of Nigerian cuisine on the global stage. Baci first made history in May 2023 by completing the longest cooking marathon, 93 hours and 11 minutes, making her Nigeria’s first chef to hold multiple Guinness titles. Her second record came in September 2025, and now the third solidifies her reputation as a culinary trailblazer.
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Inspiring the Next Generation
Baci’s achievements are more than personal milestones,they highlight Nigeria’s culinary potential and inspire chefs, food enthusiasts, and creatives across Africa to aim higher. She has turned a local celebration of jollof rice into a global recognition of culture, skill, and creativity.
As Baci continues to push the boundaries of culinary excellence, one thing is clear: records aren’t just numbers, they are milestones that celebrate teamwork, faith, and relentless ambition.
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