Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, on Friday drew attention at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, where Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, began her attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of Nigerian Jollof rice.
Akindele, who mounted the stage to loud cheers, danced before addressing the crowd.
She described Baci as strong and resilient, praising her patience and determination.
“For a woman, to break the world record, a woman, a young lady, hustling.
“Hilda, congratulations to you, now, she wants to break another record, and she will break it in Jesus name,” Akindele said.
She urged young women to look beyond physical appearance and embrace hard work.
“I love Hilda because she’s beautiful, she’s nice, she’s intelligent, beauty with brain, so all the young ladies here, you can look beautiful, but you have to hustle, you have to hustle, you have to do something special for yourself.
“Look at Tomike, look at all the ladies here, we all hustle, those are the role models you need,” she added.
The actress further commended Baci’s support for others and stressed the importance of showing up for friends.
“And she will still cook, she will still hustle, and she’s always supporting everybody, there is no thing, there is no show I do, any premiere, anything.
“Hilda will come, and I told myself, no matter how tired you are, get up and be here today to support her, and thank you all for coming out to support Hilda, congratulations to her,” the filmmaker said.
Akindele later joined Baci in the kitchen spot, stirring the tomato base for the Jollof alongside the First Lady of Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun, who also came to show support.
Other celebrities at the event included Kaffy, Tomike Adeoye, Enioluwa, Veekee James, Femi Atere, Samuel Banks, Alex Unusual, and Folagbade Banks.
Hilda rose to prominence in 2023 after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, cooking for over 93 hours in Lagos.
The feat turned her into a national sensation and earned global recognition.
For her latest challenge, Hilda disclosed that the specially designed pot has a volume of 22,619 litres, with a target to fill it up to 80 per cent.
She explained that this would require about 5,278 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice, equivalent to 264 bags, but said she rounded it up to 250 bags as part of her strategy.
The influencer is currently cooking, with crowds gathering at the Eko Hotel venue, where music, dance, and celebrity appearances have created a carnival-like atmosphere.
