Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has said her priority was feeding people rather than chasing records during her recent attempt to cook the largest pot of jollof rice.

Speaking in a video shared on X by HipTV on Tuesday, Baci recalled the dramatic moment when a custom-made 23,000-litre pot collapsed midway through the World Jollof Festival in Lagos on September 12.

“My heart was in my hands. I was very scared, very worried,” she said. “But for me, the record was not the most important thing. It was important that people got to taste and enjoy the food we had spent hours making.”

The chef explained that the setback turned out to be “a blessing in disguise,” as the food, nearly 8,780 kilograms of jollof rice, was distributed more easily to festivalgoers. Despite the scare, Guinness World Records later confirmed her as the official record-holder.

Baci emphasized transparency, saying she personally informed the adjudicator about the incident and reviewed footage to ensure proper documentation.

Celebrating what is now her second Guinness World Record, after her 2023 cook-a-thon marathon, she attributed her success to faith, “It’s just a testament that God is good and I’m a child of grace. When I tell you grace is here and you doubt me, look at my track record. Trust the Lord.”