‘I Didn’t Know’: Hilda Baci Hits Hat-Trick with Surprise Third Guinness Record
LAGOS — Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has officially cemented her status as a global culinary icon, waking up on Tuesday to the news that she is now a three-time Guinness World Record (GWR) holder.
In a stunning twist, the accolades did not come from a fresh attempt but from a retroactive discovery by the records body. GWR confirmed that her massive 2025 cook-out, which secured the title for the “Largest Serving of Nigerian-style Jollof Rice,” simultaneously broke a second, broader record: the “Largest Serving of Rice” (overall).
Baci shared the development with her millions of followers on Instagram, posting a screenshot of the email from GWR that delivered the “shocking” news.
The Surprise Email
The email, signed by Andrew Fanning, Head of Client Partnering at GWR’s Records Creative Team, explained that a review of the data from her September 2025 event revealed the dual achievement.
“It has come to our attention that, when comparing the record guidelines for the two record titles, you and your team attempted and achieved ‘Largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice’ and also achieved the record title of ‘Largest serving of rice,’” the email read. “So you have been proactively awarded this record title, too.”
“Woke Up a Record Holder”
Reacting to the news, an elated Baci described the moment as a divine surprise to kickstart 2026.
“Woke up a three-time Guinness World Records holder and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” Baci wrote. “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.”
She admitted that for five months, she had no idea that her 8,780-kilogram pot of Jollof—cooked in partnership with Gino Nigeria—had shattered two global ceilings at once.
The Winning Team
Baci wasted no time in sharing the glory. She immediately credited her strategic partner, Oreoluwa Atinmo, noting that the vision would have been impossible without her.
“The very first person I called was Oreoluwa Atinmo,” she revealed. “We did this together from idea to execution, side by side, fully aligned.”
A Legacy of Records
This latest title brings Baci’s total haul to three, solidifying her dominance in the culinary world:
- Longest Cooking Marathon (Individual): Achieved in May 2023 (93 hours, 11 minutes).
- Largest Serving of Nigerian-style Jollof Rice: Achieved in September 2025.
- Largest Serving of Rice (Overall): Confirmed in January 2026.
The 8,780kg feast, prepared at the Eko Hotels and Suites, reportedly fed over 16,000 people, a feat that continues to resonate across the global food industry.