RITE FOODS PARTNERS WITH STERLING ONE FOUNDATION FOR BEACH CLEAN-UP

From Left: Adeoye Babajide, Director, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources; Olumuyiwa Ogunsanya, Group Head, Emerging Corporates, Corporate Banking Business, Sterling Bank; HRH Yusuf Amuda Atewolara Elegushi, Baale of Okun Alfa; and Dennis Aideloje, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Manager, Rite Foods Ltd., at the recent beach cleanup at Alpha Beach, Lagos, held as part of National Sustainability Week under the Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM) initiative.

Rite Foods Limited, a leading Nigerian food and beverage manufacturer, has partnered with Sterling One Foundation to conduct a beach clean-up at Alpha Beach in Lekki, Lagos. This initiative, part of the Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM) program, capped off the National Sustainability Week organized by Sterling One Foundation.

The clean-up saw active participation from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, local residents, and volunteers, all working together to clear plastic and other waste from the beach. This effort not only aimed to restore the beauty of the shoreline but also to promote awareness about sustainable living.

Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, expressed gratitude for Rite Foods’ support, saying, “The Sterling One Foundation has been engaged in this clean-up initiative since 2008. We appreciate Rite Foods Limited for partnering with us at short notice, and we believe this collaboration will yield impactful results. Our thanks go to the Baale, Chief Yusuf Elegushi Atewolara, and the local community for their continued support. A clean environment is a healthy environment.”

Ibekwe further explained that the clean-up is part of the Foundation’s Beach Adoption Programme, launched in 2021 to empower local women and youth through waste collection and recycling training. The programme turns plastic waste into valuable resources, benefiting the local economy. She highlighted that clean-up activities are ongoing in cities like Abuja, Katsina, Asaba, Minna, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, with coordinators overseeing volunteers and logistics for smooth operations.

Dennis Aideloje, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Manager at Rite Foods Limited, emphasized the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. He noted, “Rite Foods Limited is dedicated to supporting clean-up efforts and promoting responsible waste management within communities. As a manufacturing entity, we advocate for innovations in recycling that not only protect the environment but also create jobs and support community needs, such as providing school supplies for children living along Lagos’ shorelines.”

Aideloje added that Rite Foods aims to instill a sense of responsibility towards waste management to preserve aquatic life and foster a cleaner environment.

Mr. Adeoye Babajide from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment & Water Resources commended both Sterling One Foundation and Rite Foods for their environmental responsibility. He shared that the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the people of Lagos appreciate private organizations that contribute to the state’s sustainability goals.