Nigerian celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, has announced that she is now a three-time Guinness World Record (GWR) holder after her previous year’s achievement earned her an additional global title.
The popular chef, who previously set records for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice and a 93-hour cooking marathon, revealed that her jollof rice feat also qualified as the largest serving of rice overall.
Baci shared the news on Instagram, updating her bio to read “Chef X3 Guinness World Record Holder.”
“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 this year,” she wrote.
According to an email from Guinness World Records, the recognition came after officials reviewed the guidelines of multiple categories linked to her previous record attempt.
“Congratulations, you are Officially Amazing (again)! It has come to our attention when comparing record guidelines of the two record titles, that when you and your team attempted and achieved ‘Largest serving of Nigeriagn-style jollof rice,’ you also achieved the record title of ‘Largest serving of rice,’” said Andrew Fanning, Head of Client Partnering – Records Creative Team.
Reacting to the news, Baci described the moment as unexpected and emotional.
“This morning, I was just doing my usual routine, casually scrolling through my emails, when I saw the message come in. I was shocked and happy at the same time, completely caught off guard,” she said.
She explained that what she originally believed was a single achievement had turned into two records in one day.
“When @ginonaija and I broke the Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, I thought that was it. What I didn’t know is that we had also broken the record for the largest serving of rice overall. So what I thought was one record… turned out to be two,” Baci added.
The chef had prepared 8,780 kilograms (19,356 pounds) of jollof rice during a massive Lagos cookout, making it the largest pot of the iconic dish ever recorded.
This achievement followed her earlier Guinness World Record for completing a 93-hour, 11-minute cooking marathon, which made her Nigeria’s first chef to hold multiple Guinness World Records.
Baci credited her success to teamwork, particularly acknowledging her collaborator, @oreoluwa_atinmo.
“The very first person I called was @oreoluwa_atinmo, because this journey, this vision, and this record would not have been possible without her. From idea to execution, side by side,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to God for what she described as unexpected blessings.
“Honestly, God is faithful. This feels like such a beautiful reminder that even when you think you’ve seen the full picture, God can still say, ‘There’s more,’” she added.
Thanking Guinness World Records, her team, and supporters, Baci described the moment as overwhelming.
“To my incredible team, this is OUR win. Every long day, every detail, every push, it all mattered. And to everyone who supported and believed, my heart is so full,” she said.
The latest recognition further cements Hilda Baci’s status as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated chefs, showcasing the global impact of Nigerian cuisine and her remarkable culinary achievements.
