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| From Left: David Solarin, Director, Water Regulatory Enforcement and Advocacy, Ogun State Ministry of Environment; Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability, Rite Foods Limited; Olumide Idowu, Clean Energy Advocate; Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State; Dumebi Azubuike, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Expert; Barong Asiodu, General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Rite Foods Limited; and Olufemi Ajileye, General Manager, Rite Foods Limited; during the stakeholders’ forum on the International Day of Clean Energy organised by Rite Foods Limited, at the company’s headquarters in Lagos, on Friday, 30th January 2026. |
Rite Foods Limited has renewed its call for accelerated clean energy adoption across Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, reaffirming its leadership in sustainable industrial practices during a high-level multi-stakeholder forum held to mark the 2026 International Day of Clean Energy.
The engagement, themed “Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition: Balancing Risks, Trade-offs and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth,” convened policymakers, regulators, energy experts, sustainability advocates, manufacturers, and media professionals at the company’s Head Office in Opebi, Lagos. The forum focused on practical strategies for integrating renewable and cleaner energy solutions into Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector amid the country’s complex power challenges.
As a leading Nigerian FMCG company, Rite Foods highlighted its consistent investments in cleaner and more efficient energy systems, a strategy that has significantly reduced its environmental footprint while sustaining large-scale manufacturing operations nationwide.
Clean Energy as a Business Imperative
Declaring the event open, Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, described clean energy as central to the company’s long-term growth strategy rather than a corporate afterthought.
“Clean energy is not optional for us at Rite Foods; it is a strategic business imperative,” Eze said. “While we understand the realities of industrial operations in Nigeria, we are deliberately pursuing resilient, efficient, and cleaner energy solutions that support sustainability, productivity, and business continuity.”
Rite Foods disclosed that 95 per cent of its energy consumption now comes from cleaner sources, including natural gas and solar power, with diesel accounting for just five per cent of its energy mix. This transition, the company noted, has helped lower emissions while improving operational reliability across its manufacturing facilities.
Aligning Sustainability With Growth
In his opening remarks, delivered by Mrs. Barong Asiodu, General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rite Foods, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, reiterated the company’s commitment to embedding sustainability into its long-term business vision.
“For us, energy resilience is critical to business continuity,” Adegunwa stated. “As the manufacturing landscape evolves, companies must proactively reduce environmental impact while strengthening competitiveness. Our clean energy investments reflect disciplined, long-term thinking about efficiency, innovation, and responsible growth.”
He added that industry-wide progress would be faster when stakeholders align, collaborate, and share practical knowledge on sustainable solutions.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, described clean energy adoption as both an environmental necessity and a strategic economic opportunity for Nigeria.
She explained that Nigeria’s energy transition requires a deliberate shift from fossil fuels such as oil, diesel, and gas to renewable sources including solar, wind, and hydropower, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), the Paris Agreement, and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which targets net-zero emissions by 2060.
Oshodi highlighted the country’s current energy challenges, including limited electricity access, dependence on biomass for cooking, and the health and environmental risks associated with prolonged generator and firewood use. She warned that delayed transition carries significant public health and environmental costs, while an unstructured transition could strain economic stability.
Commending Rite Foods for convening the dialogue, she described the forum as timely and impactful, noting that private-sector leadership is essential to advancing Nigeria’s clean energy agenda and strengthening industrial resilience.
A panel session featuring Olufemi Ajileye, General Manager, Operations at Rite Foods; Olumide Idowu, climate advocate; Shofela Akinbode, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (Special Duties and Climate Change); and Eustace Onuegbu, sustainability expert, explored policy frameworks, financing models, innovation, and collaboration as key drivers of sustainable industrial growth.
Speaking on operational efficiency, Femi Ajileye, General Manager, Operations at Rite Foods, noted that sustainability is deeply integrated into the company’s production systems.
“Clean energy and efficiency are about smarter operations,” Ajileye said. “While initial capital costs may be higher, energy-efficient systems lower long-term costs, reduce maintenance, and improve asset lifespan. For manufacturers, this translates into stronger cost leadership, better margins, and reinvestment into innovation and expansion.”
Beyond energy sourcing, Rite Foods disclosed that disciplined energy management, modern equipment, automation, and process optimisation have helped the company achieve low energy intensity per unit of production, outperforming typical industry benchmarks.
Goodwill messages from representatives of the Food and Beverages Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Federal Ministry of Environment, Sterling One Foundation, and GZI Industries reinforced the importance of strong public-private partnerships in accelerating Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
Experts at the forum agreed that Nigeria’s energy transition must be balanced, inclusive, and data-driven, moving from linear energy consumption to circular systems that promote innovation, green jobs, and inclusive access.
“If managed wisely, clean energy will not slow Nigeria’s growth,” participants concluded. “Rather, it will redefine it.”
Rite Foods’ sustainability leadership has earned the company multiple recognitions, including Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year at the Edge Awards and several honours at the Sustainability, Innovation and Social Impact (SISA) Awards and SERAS Awards, reinforcing its position as a proudly Nigerian brand driving responsible, future-focused growth.