Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has showered praises on celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, following her recent Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of Jollof rice.
In a post shared on his verified Instagram page on Saturday, Osinbajo described the cook-a-thon as a powerful reminder that greatness can spring from the most ordinary places — even a pot of rice.
“@hildabaci reminded us yesterday, that greatness can begin in the simplest of places, even in a pot of rice,” he wrote.
Osinbajo commended the chef for what he described as a creative expression of Nigerian culture, saying Baci turned “Jollof, our beloved national treasure, into a story that carried Nigeria’s culture to the world.”
He further noted that her effort underscored how food goes beyond sustenance. “In the scale of her effort and in the generosity of its sharing, she proved that food is never just food. It is memory, it is pride, it is identity served to the world on a single plate,” he said.
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The former VP praised Baci’s innovation and determination, saying her record-breaking idea was not only bold but also a testament to Nigeria’s exportable creativity. “She has shown us that creativity, like Jollof, is one of Nigeria’s greatest exports,” he said.
Rounding off his message with humour, Osinbajo took a light-hearted jab at the age-old debate around the coveted “bottom pot” Jollof, writing: “Some may say I am a little biased, but you see that smoky Jollof at the bottom of the pot… that will always be the truth. Smoky Jollof fans, gather here :man-raising-hand:. If you know, you know.”
Hilda Baci, who previously broke the record for the longest cooking marathon in 2023, recently embarked on another ambitious culinary feat, drawing wide attention from Nigerians and food lovers around the globe.
