Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has declared that the giant pot used during her historic jollof rice feat will not be auctioned or sold.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at the Gino Nigeria office in Lagos, the celebrity chef described the pot as more than just cookware, but a national and global symbol.
“Oh, trust me, so many people have asked about that pot. Some people want to buy it, they said we should auction it,” Hilda said. “But that pot is a symbol of a lot of beautiful things. It’s a symbol of history. It’s a symbol of faith. It’s a symbol of innovation.”
The chef explained that she and her team want the iconic item to remain a source of inspiration for generations.
“I think we agree that this is something that we want 10 years from now, 20 years from now, for people to still be able to see and point to,” she added. “We’re not going to sell it. We’re going to make sure as many people as possible get to see it in its glory.”
According to her, the pot will eventually be restored to its original form and made available for public display, either in a museum or a notable public space.
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Hilda, who gained global recognition after her 2023 cook-a-thon where she cooked for over 100 hours, recently set another Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.
The record, achieved in partnership with Gino on September 19, 2025, at Victoria Island, Lagos, was confirmed by Guinness as weighing 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz).
The custom-made pot, with a capacity of 22,619 litres, was filled with jollof rice made from 200 bags of rice. The event attracted a carnival-like crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries, including Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, Ogun First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, dancer Kaffy, and fashion designer Veekee James, among others.
Guinness World Records announced the achievement on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.”