UNILAG Vice Chancellor Lauds Rite Foods for National Academic Excellence Award Initiative

The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, has applauded Rite Foods Limited for its commitment to promoting academic excellence through the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards, describing the initiative as a veritable investment in Nigeria’s future and a worthy recognition of outstanding academic achievement.

Professor Ogunsola gave the commendation on Monday, July 20, when she presented the University’s two awardees of the Rite Foods Awards to the management of the University.

At the event, UNILAG awardees Chinedu Okeke Christian, Overall Best Matriculating Student in the South-West Zone, and Tijesuni Michelle Ogunsua-Dixon, winner of the Equal Opportunity Group category, presented their scholarship cheques from Rite Foods to the University management. The University of Lagos is the only tertiary institution to produce two awardees at the inaugural edition of the initiative.

Speaking during the presentation, Professor Ogunsola commended Rite Foods for complementing the efforts of tertiary institutions in encouraging academic excellence through private sector support.

“This initiative is a commendable example of how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to education. By recognising students who have distinguished themselves academically and ensuring that equal opportunity is also celebrated, Rite Foods is sending a strong message that excellence, hard work and resilience deserve to be rewarded. I believe this will inspire many young Nigerians to strive for greater achievements,” she said.

The Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Dennise Aideloje, who represented Rite Foods at the event, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians through education and other impactful social investment initiatives.

“At Rite Foods, we believe education is one of the greatest investments any society can make. The Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award was created to celebrate exceptional young Nigerians whose dedication and outstanding performance deserve recognition. We hope this recognition inspires not only the recipients but many other students to pursue excellence in their academic journey,” Aideloje said.

The Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award recognises the best matriculating students across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones using a transparent selection process based on candidates’ aggregate performance in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), O’Level results, and Post-UTME scores. The initiative also recognises outstanding students in the Equal Opportunity category, reinforcing the company’s commitment to inclusion and equal access to educational opportunities.

The award recipients expressed appreciation to Rite Foods Limited for the honour, noting that the recognition would motivate them to remain focused on academic excellence and contribute meaningfully to society.

Through the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award Initiative, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting education, nurturing exceptional talent, and empowering the next generation of leaders through strategic partnerships that create lasting social impact under its EYEC Corporate Social Responsibility framework.