Stirring More Than Jollof: What We Can Learn from Hilda Baci’s Latest World Record Attempt

During the last weekend, the world watched in awe as Chef Hilda Baci once again put herself and Nigerian cuisine on the global stage. Her ambitious attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest pot of jollof rice wasn’t just about cooking. It was about vision, courage, and the kind of grit it takes to attempt what many would consider impossible.

From the start, Hilda’s journey was marked by adaptability. Originally planning to cook 250 bags of rice, she adjusted down to 200 due to equipment limitations. Even with this shift, the scale of the project remained monumental. And when the giant pot unexpectedly collapsed during weighing, it was a powerful reminder that setbacks can show up even in our best-planned journeys. Yet what stood out was the spirit around her: no panic, just resilience, community support, and an unshaken belief that her effort had already made history.

At SkillHer, we see stories like this as more than headlines. They carry lessons for every woman striving to build her own path:

  • Dream audaciously. Hilda could have stayed within safe limits, but she chose to aim bigger, a reminder that our dreams should scare us a little.

  • Adapt without losing focus. When circumstances changed, she recalibrated instead of quitting. Flexibility is not weakness, it’s wisdom.

  • Stand tall through setbacks. A collapsing pot doesn’t cancel out the courage it took to show up. Neither should our setbacks erase the value of our effort.

  • Community multiplies impact. The thousands who turned up, cheered, and rallied around her reflect the power of shared belief,  something we deeply hold at SkillHer.

Whether or not Guinness certifies this attempt, Hilda has already won in the ways that matter most: she’s showcased Nigerian culture, inspired a generation, and proved once again that women can carry big visions and see them through.


As we continue to host our workshops, build skills, and fuel confidence among women, we carry forward the same spirit: that boldness plus community can make anything possible.

Here’s to women who stir more than pots, stirring nations, movements, and possibilities.

Comments

Annie said…
This is a beautiful read.
Another thing I learnt from her was meticulous planning. She planned everything to the most little detail. There was a total calculation from the quantity of rice it'd take to fill up the pot to the quantity of seasoning that would be enough for the rice and that alone is the beginning of greatness from her dreaming to planning to standing tall and to having a community of supporters, hers is a story that reminds us that there is no dream that is ridiculous
September 20, 2025 at 11:17 AM

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