The Managing Director of Rite Foods Ltd., Mr Seleem Adegunwa, says the firm is committing $35 million annually to reward top candidates across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Adegunwa spoke on Tuesday at the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award in Lagos, saying Nigeria’s future depends on youth investment.
themomentng reports that the award honoured outstanding students nationwide.
The MD said the initiative recognised academic excellence and supported future leaders, innovators and professionals.
“Today is more than a ceremony. It is a celebration of excellence,” Adegunwa said, describing the programme as “a vote of confidence in the potential of Nigerian youth.
“At Rite Foods, we believe Nigeria’s future will be shaped by the quality of its young people.”
Adegunwa said the initiative rewarded achievement while encouraging aspirations and nation-building among young Nigerians.
He said Rite Foods grew through vision, innovation, resilience and commitment to quality.
According to him, the same values guided the company’s support for education.
“We are sending a clear message that excellence matters and hard work pays,” he said.
He described education as one of the strongest drivers of national development.
“No nation can rise above the quality of its human capital,” Adegunwa said, adding that sustainable economic growth required investment in education and youth empowerment.
“For us, supporting education is not merely corporate responsibility; it is a national imperative,” he said.
Adegunwa said winners were selected through assessments of WASSCE and UTME performances.
He said the process ensured transparency, fairness and credibility in selecting beneficiaries.
The programme also included equal opportunity candidates to promote inclusion among young Nigerians.
Adegunwa said beneficiaries would receive mentorship and internship opportunities during their studies.
He added that Rite Foods had supported schools through infrastructure, materials and talent programmes.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, praised the company’s initiative, saying JAMB partnered with Rite Foods because of the award’s credibility.
He reminded students that UTME success alone did not guarantee university admission.
He said: “People believe UTME is the golden key to tertiary education, but it is not.
“The Senior Secondary School Certificate remains the basic requirement for admission,” Oloyede said. He urged recipients to remain focused, persistent and committed to excellence.
Dr Salau Ideatu, representing the Minister of Education, praised private sector support for education, saying government was prioritising education through scholarships, grants and digital reforms.
Ideatu said NELFUND and other programmes were improving access to quality education. “We want graduates to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers,” he said.
He said STEM students were being empowered to transform ideas into businesses. “Educational transformation requires strong partnerships with the private sector,” Ideatu added.
NAN reports that each regional recipient received N5 million under the award scheme.
Winners included Vincent Daniel from the Northeast, who studies Medicine at the University of Maiduguri.
Christian Okeke from the Southwest studies mechanical engineering at the University of Lagos.
Godwin Orzekor from North Central studies software engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
James Edidiong from South-South studies Medicine and Surgery at the University of Uyo.
David Joshua from Southeast studies software engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Francis Miendwas from Northwest studies Software Engineering at the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
Tijesuni Mitchelle Ogunsua-Dixon received the JAMB Equal Opportunity Award.
In spite of losing her sight after surgery, she achieved an aggregate UTME score of 81.20 per cent.
She is currently studying Communication and Media Studies at the University of Lagos.
