At a time when conversations around Nigeria’s education sector are often dominated by concerns about declining standards and limited opportunities for young people, Rite Foods Limited has chosen a different approach celebrating excellence and investing in the nation’s brightest minds.

The leading food and beverage company, in partnership with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), rewarded seven exceptional students with N35 million at the maiden edition of the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award, an initiative designed to recognise academic brilliance and inspire a culture of merit among Nigerian youths.

The award ceremony, held in Lagos, saw the highest-performing matriculating students from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alongside a beneficiary from JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group, receive N5 million each in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.

Speaking at the event, Seleem Adegunwa, managing director and chief executive officer Rite Foods Limited, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and a demonstration of the company’s confidence in the potential of young Nigerians.

“Today is more than a ceremony. It is a celebration of excellence, a vote of confidence in the potential of Nigerian youths, and a demonstration of what can be achieved when institutions come together to invest in the future of our country,“ Adegunwa said.

According to him, the initiative goes beyond financial rewards and reflects the company’s belief that the future of the nation will be determined by the quality, preparedness and aspirations of its young people.

“At Rite Foods, we firmly believe that Nigeria’s future will be shaped by the quality of its young people. That is why this initiative goes beyond rewarding academic achievement; it is about recognising brilliance, encouraging aspiration, and empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, professionals and nation-builders,” he stated.

The Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award represents an annual investment of N35 million in education and youth development. More importantly, it underscores the company’s broader aspiration to build what it describes as an “Excellence Culture” in Nigeria one where achievement is celebrated, merit is recognised, and young people are inspired to pursue their highest potential.

For Rite Foods, the initiative is intended to shift national conversations from mediocrity to excellence, from limitations to possibilities, and from merely discussing challenges to actively rewarding outstanding performance.

Adegunwa noted that education remains one of the most powerful drivers of national development and stressed that investing in young people should be viewed not only as a corporate responsibility but as a national imperative.

“Education remains one of the most powerful drivers of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its human capital, and no economy can achieve sustainable growth without investing in the education and empowerment of its youth. For us, therefore, supporting education is not merely a corporate responsibility; it is a national imperative,” he said.

The beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous assessment process conducted by JAMB using candidates’ aggregate admission scores, which combined their WAEC results, UTME scores and Post-UTME performance. The merit-based approach ensured that the award recognised not only academic brilliance but also consistency, discipline and excellence across multiple levels of assessment.

According to Rite Foods, the programme specifically focuses on students admitted into public universities, where financial support can significantly impact access to quality education and help deserving students realise their academic ambitions.

Beyond the N5 million award presented to each recipient, the students also received access to mentorship opportunities from the company’s leadership team as well as internship placements during their undergraduate studies.

Adegunwa said the additional support was designed to expose the awardees to real-world business experiences and help prepare them for leadership roles in the future.

“These awards come with mentorship opportunities by the Leadership Team of the Company as well as opportunities for internship during your undergraduate studies. This is to give you industry experience and prepare you for real life after school,” he told the students.

The initiative forms part of Rite Foods’ sustainability framework known as EYEC—Education, Youth Empowerment, Environmental Stewardship and Community Development which guides the company’s corporate citizenship programmes and community investments.

Over the years, the company has implemented several interventions aimed at supporting education, youth development and talent discovery. These have included investments in educational infrastructure, distribution of learning materials to schools, and support for programmes that nurture talent in sports, music and entrepreneurship.

For the company, such interventions reflect a deeper philosophy that business growth must be accompanied by meaningful contributions to societal development.

“This commitment stems from a simple belief: corporate success must translate into societal progress. As our business grows, so too must our contribution to the development of our people and our nation,” Adegunwa said.

The Rite Foods boss also used the occasion to challenge young Nigerians to see education as a pathway to personal advancement and national transformation.

Addressing the award recipients directly, he reminded them that Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of the country’s greatest strengths and that their talents, creativity and digital skills could become a powerful force for economic development when combined with quality education.

“You are here to write Nigeria’s story. Over 70 per cent of our population is under 30 years of age. Our youthful population must become a leverage for Nigeria. Your energy, your digital savviness and creativity, when powered by quality education, becomes economic leverage,” he said.

“Be disciplined, be patriotic in your learning. Learn to solve problems; learn to lift Nigeria to a first-world country. It is possible.”

The launch of the programme further reinforces Rite Foods’ position as one of Nigeria’s most socially responsible indigenous companies. From its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ososa, Ogun State, the company has built a portfolio of market-leading brands including Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bigi Table Water, Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink and its range of premium sausages.

While these brands have earned recognition in Nigeria’s highly competitive fast-moving consumer goods sector, the company says its definition of success extends beyond market leadership.

As Adegunwa noted, the true measure of corporate success lies in the positive impact an organisation creates and the legacy it leaves behind.

“As we celebrate this partnership today, we are reminded that true success is measured not only by market leadership or commercial performance, but by the positive impact we make in people’s lives and the legacy we leave behind,” he said.