Rite Foods Limited, Nigeria’s leading food and beverage company, has restated its commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through sponsorship of the 2024 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival slated for Tuesday, 18th June 2024 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
At the World Press Conference unveiling the Ojude Oba Festival 2024, the Company’s Head of Marketing, Ms. Boma Harrison, affirmed that Rite Foods’ continuous sponsorship of the Ojude Oba Festival was a demonstration of its commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural values of its communities as a proudly Nigerian Company.
“We are deeply committed to investing time, expertise, and resources in advancing locally relevant initiatives in our communities. We view culture as a vital part of who we are as individuals and as a people. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, our loyalty to His Royal Majesty, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Alaiyeluwa Ọba (Dr) Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna, CFR, J.P, and commitment to the Ojude Oba Festival demonstrate our belief that promoting the interest of our communities is a collective responsibility. We are excited to be in the vanguard of preserving the identity and civilization of the Ijebu societies, fostering unity, and promoting social and cultural cohesion,” she said.
In his address, the Chairman of the Ojude Oba Festival 2024 Planning Committee, Chief (Barr.) Olu B.Okuboyejo said the highlight of the event will include 90 Age Grade performances dubbed “Regberegbe,” both male and female, with the prizes for the winning team, and the first and second runners-up, and 25 families of warlords, showcasing their dexterity in a peaceful and orderly manner that depicts their past experience in warfare.
He stated that the rich cultural heritage dates back to about two centuries and is widely cherished by the indigenes at home and in the diaspora. This year’s edition themed: ”Ojude Oba: Peace, Unity and Harmony, Our Gifts”, according to him, re-echoes the pristine objective of Ojude Oba, which is to foster unity and peaceful co-existence in the community.
The festival will also serve as a unification of all sons and daughters of Ijebuland, and with a homage to the His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, the Awujale of the Ijẹbu Kingdom, who in the past events, avowed that Ojude Oba brings about love, mutual understanding, and peaceful co-existence that defines what they stand for. Also, it enhances the area’s tourism potential, as it hosts visitors from other parts of the globe.
The coordinator of the annual event, Chief (Dr.) Fassy Yusuf (Baagbimo of Ijebu), applauded Rite Foods and all sponsors for their unwavering support for the upcoming festival and for previous events, that have made the Ijebu nation popular in the country and beyond.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Sesan Fagbayi, said the present administration felicitates with the Ijebu people as they celebrate the Ojude Oba Festival which serves as a unique forum for cultural and national development of the sons and daughters of the land.
As in the previous editions, Harrison restated that Rite Foods will refresh and delight participants with its quality products to make the event memorable and exciting.
With award-winning brands, Rite Foods’ consumer-centricity has been demonstrated through credible platforms and sponsorships that have earned it numerous awards which include the “Most Innovative Carbonated Soft Drink Brand of the Year” for the Bigi Brand, the “Most Outstanding Energy Drink in Consumer Engagement” for its number-one energy drink, the Fearless brand; “Best Value for Money – Carbonated Drink Brand 2023” for Bigi Cola; “Best Value for Money – Energy Drinks Brand 2023” for Fearless Energy Drink; and “Best Value for Money – Sausage Brand 2023” for Bigi Beef Sausage Roll.
Also, the premium Sosa Fruit Drink won the “Outstanding New Product of the Year – Juice” in 2023, among others.