Nigerian Jollof rice has long been a staple on the country’s culinary map, but few have championed it on the global stage quite like Chef Hilda Baci.
Bold, ambitious, and unafraid of the spotlight, she has turned a national dish into an international talking point, while transforming herself into one of Africa’s most influential food entrepreneurs.
Baci first became a household name in 2023 when she embarked on a grueling four-day “cook-a-thon.” For 93 hours and 11 minutes, she cooked non-stop, smashing a world record and igniting a frenzy across Nigeria.
Politicians, celebrities, and ordinary citizens rallied around her effort, and even though the record has since been broken, the achievement placed her firmly in the public eye.
Earlier this year, she raised the stakes even higher. In one audacious feat, Baci cooked over 8.7 tonnes of Jollof rice in a specially made pot, earning another Guinness World Record.
Beyond the spectacle, it was a statement: Nigerian cuisine is not only rich in flavour but deserving of global recognition. “Jollof is more than just rice,” she explained. “It’s an experience, a culture. By blending traditional recipes with modern twists, I wanted to create a flavour that truly represents who we are.”
Yet behind the glamour, there are two sides to Hilda Baci. There is Hilda the person – daughter, partner, and “lover girl,” as she calls herself – and Hilda the brand, a carefully curated force in the food business. “I’m a businesswoman first,” she often says, and the figures back it up. Under her My Food by Hilda brand, she runs a thriving Lagos restaurant, offers private chef services, teaches cookery classes, and commands millions of followers across social media platforms.
Her culinary journey began early. Born in Calabar and raised in Abuja, she spent her childhood helping her mother run a modest eatery opposite the Ministry of Defence. From memorising menus to serving hungry customers with a sharp wit, she learned that food was more than sustenance – it could change lives.
“My mother’s story planted a seed,” she recalls. “Seeing her turn food into success gave me a vision for what was possible.”
Still, Baci’s path was far from straightforward. At first, she dreamed of becoming a lawyer, then flirted with international relations before eventually graduating in sociology.
She tried her hand at acting and TV presenting, even landing a segment on a breakfast show where she hosted Dine on a Budget, interviewing celebrities over a three-course meal. But time and again, food pulled her back, until her passion blossomed into a career.
Today, she is more than a chef. She is an influencer, a strategist, and a symbol of modern Nigerian ambition.
She has won culinary face-offs against Ghanaian rivals, inspired countless young women to chase their dreams, and is unapologetically building a global brand. “I want to build a legacy,” she says. “A company that will last 100 years, with outlets in the UK, US, Canada, South Africa – everywhere. Nigerian cuisine deserves to sit at the global table.”
Despite her fame, she has faced the pressures that often come with being a high-achieving woman in Nigeria. From questions about marriage to doubts about her career choices, she has learned to shrug off the noise. “Of course, I want to get married – but on my own terms,” she insists. “My worth is not defined by society’s timeline.”
For now, Hilda Baci is focused on what she does best: blending business savvy with cultural pride, serving up not just food, but an identity, a vision, and an enduring legacy. In the sizzling pot of her career, Nigerian Jollof is just the beginning.
