Food influencer and Guinness World Records holder Hilda Baci began her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice on Friday at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.

The event attracted a large crowd of Gen Zs, millennials, celebrities and food lovers who filled the hotel premises to witness the record attempt.

Long queues formed around the venue as attendees struggled to gain entry, with many being stuck at the gate while security personnel controlled the restless crowd, verifying registration emails.

Baci said the custom-built pot has a capacity of 22,619 litres, explaining that her original target was to fill 80 per cent of it.

She noted that this would require about 5,278 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice, roughly 264 bags, but she has now raised her target to 25,000 bags.

As the cooking commenced, supporters cheered loudly and waved banners, creating a charged atmosphere around the historic attempt.