A surprising turn of events unfolded at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria, during chef Hilda Baci's ambitious attempt to cook the world's largest pot of jollof rice. In the early hours of Saturday morning, the massive pot, central to her record-breaking endeavor, reportedly broke while organizers were in the process of weighing it. The incident caused a stir among the gathered crowd, eliciting gasps as the immense weight of the jollof rice caused the pot to give way.

Despite the unexpected mishap, a crucial detail emerged: the vast quantity of jollof rice within the pot remained entirely intact, preventing a complete loss of her culinary effort. Hilda Baci, who had previously captivated global audiences and achieved the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest cooking marathon in 2023, is once again at the forefront of a major culinary challenge. Her current objective is to secure another GWR, this time for preparing Nigeria's cherished national dish, jollof rice, on an unprecedented scale.

The event had drawn a significant gathering of supporters, including prominent celebrities, influential figures, and dedicated food enthusiasts, all present earlier in the day to lend their backing to Baci's mission. Their collective aim was to help showcase Nigeria's rich cultural heritage on the world stage through this culinary feat. Although the pot's unforeseen breakage momentarily put the spirit of the attempt to the test, the atmosphere among attendees quickly rebounded with a renewed sense of optimism. Many lauded the incident as yet another testament to Hilda Baci's resilient and bold approach to her culinary journey, reinforcing her status as a symbol of Nigerian resilience, creativity, and national culinary pride.