Hilda Baci’s Jollof Rice Festival Ignites Enthusiasm, Draws Praise and Criticism, and Ends in ₦300 Million Debate.

Hilda Baci’s Jollof Rice Festival Ignites Enthusiasm, Draws Praise and Criticism, and Ends in ₦300 Million Debate.

The Nigerian World.

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Celebrity chef Hilda Baci kicked off her jollof rice cook-a-thon with over 20,000 people in attendance, according to her team.

The event, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, with several Nigerian celebrities showing up to cheer her on.

The cooking continued into the early hours, with rice still being served around 2 a.m. the next day.

Hilda recently made headlines for her record-breaking attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. The feat involved 250 bags of rice, thousands of ingredients, and a massive team effort.

While the event was widely celebrated, a viral claim that the jollof rice cost ₦300 million sparked controversy.

Reports suggest the actual cost of the food itself was between ₦24 million and ₦30 million, covering rice, tomato paste, oil, spices, and other essentials.

The ₦300 million figure likely reflects the total production cost—including logistics, venue, staffing, media coverage, and promotions.

Supporters praised the event as a showcase of Nigerian excellence and hospitality.

Critics, however, questioned the spending and noted that the rice didn’t match the quality of traditional home-cooked jollof.

They argued that the dish, typically prepared by a single hand with precision and careful temperature control, lost its authenticity when made by a large team.

Jollof rice, as a soulful dish, requires consistency and finesse—qualities that can be compromised in mass production.

Still, Hilda emphasized the cultural significance of the event and the joy of feeding thousands for free, celebrating unity through food.

Whether the ₦300 million claim is accurate or inflated, one thing is clear: Hilda Baci’s jollof rice festival has sparked a national conversation—not just about food, but about value, visibility, and the cost of making history.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog.

Images / videos/ Hilda Baci / Cook-a-thon / Social Media NG.