“Hilda Baci’s Mother Speaks Out: The Moment She Saw The Pot That Could Make History”

The mother of celebrity chef Hilda Baci has revealed that she was initially filled with doubt when her daughter announced plans to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. Speaking during Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD online morning service on Tuesday, Bassey, who owns Calabar Pot restaurant in Gudu, Abuja, recounted how Hilda told her she intended to use a six-metre-wide pot and 250 bags of basmati rice for the attempt.

Bassey attributed her daughter’s Guinness World Record achievement for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice to prayer, fasting, and divine intervention, stating, “What God cannot do does not exist.” She recalled being overwhelmed upon learning the scale of the preparation. “When she mentioned 250 bags, I was shaking. When she sent me the video of the pot, I said, ‘What kind of rice is this?’ That pot was like my office. I was afraid,” she said.

The family immediately embarked on a period of fasting and prayer. “She told me, ‘Mommy, we have to fast all through this week.’ I joined NSPPD every morning, prayed through the night, and placed the picture of the event before God. I prayed, ‘Father, what you did before in Amore Garden, do it again in Eko Hotel. A season of good news must not turn to shame,’” she testified.

Bassey admitted she was concerned the massive pot might collapse under the combined weight of rice, meat, and oil. “Even the cover of that pot couldn’t be carried. They had to bring in cranes to lift it. I prayed, ‘Father, this pot I hand over to you. It was made by man, but you are God. May it not leak. Because if it leaked, the flame and the gas would catch fire. That would have turned joy to disaster. But God did it,’” she said.

The record-breaking pot ultimately contained 200 bags of rice, 20 goats, 30 gallons of oil, and large quantities of tomato paste and seasonings. “By Saturday it had been carried to the venue. I walked in, touched it, and told God, ‘What I am afraid of will not happen.’ And it ended in praise,” Bassey said.

She also described how Hilda inspired her team in faith near the conclusion of the cooking process. “About 40 minutes to go, she said, ‘Mommy, we need to pray in the Holy Ghost.’ She told the team, ‘This is the first time you people will eat rice that the Holy Ghost will cook.’ And I smiled. That is the kind of faith she has,” she added.

Guinness officials later weighed the massive pot using a crane and officially confirmed the record without incident. Overflowing with gratitude, Bassey said, “Guinness has called us. My daughter has broken the record two times. Two-time record holder. Who is Hilda? Who is Hilda’s father? Who is Hilda’s mother? What is our family name? For us to pull such a crowd, it can only be God.”

Reflecting on the event, she said the massive turnout left her overwhelmed. “When I saw the crowd, I just said, ‘What God cannot do does not exist. Father, no one will collapse here, no death, no accident, no evil report.’ And that was how it ended—everything in praise,” she concluded.