A video circulating on TikTok and social media platforms has captured the moment crates of seasoning cubes, tomato paste, and various spices were delivered and unloaded at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos ahead of celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s bid to cook what she hopes will be the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. The footage shows a van pulling up at the venue, its contents clearly labelled with Gino brand products: peppered chicken seasoning cubes, party jollof tomato paste, curry and thyme seasonings among them.
The event, scheduled for September 12, 2025, was initially to be held at Muri Okunola Park but was relocated to Eko Hotel & Suites. The change of venue reportedly followed high levels of registration and logistical adjustments. Also shown in the lead-up to the festival is the pot itself—delivered early in the morning and test-runs having been carried out by Baci and her team in recent weeks, in preparation for the cook-off.
The ingredients are being supplied by Gino Nigeria, who are partnering with Hilda Baci for the festival. In the unveiling video, the spokesperson for Gino boasts about the high-volume supplies, saying “Gino pulled up with the products … including our Gino peppered chicken seasoning cubes and tomato paste … Gino party jollof tomato paste, Gino curry and thyme seasonings.”
As anticipation builds, netizens have flooded social media with reactions — some expressing excitement, others seeking more information on registration and attendance. Comments have ranged from disappointment over missing confirmation emails to curiosity over how massive and authentic the events will be.
However, alongside the enthusiasm, there have been questions raised by some observers who want clarity on various aspects of the undertaking — its scale, transparency, and logistics. One man, for example, posed six questions about the feasibility and planning of the event.
In sum, all is set for what promises to be a landmark culinary event in Nigeria’s food culture. With the ingredients now in place, public attention will turn to whether Hilda Baci and her partners can deliver on their ambitious goal of cooking the largest pot of jollof rice.
