Rite Foods Donates 600 Protective Coveralls To Ogun Waste Workers

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

Rite Foods Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading food and beverage companies, has donated 600 protective coveralls and other waste management tools to workers of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA.

The donation, made to commemorate World Cleanup Day 2026 themed “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” was formally presented to the management of OGWAMA on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Authority’s headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials of OGWAMA, representatives of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, and the management team of Rite Foods.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Ekuma Eze, said the initiative was designed to recognise and support waste management workers whose daily efforts are essential to maintaining cleaner and healthier communities.

According to him, the gesture goes beyond corporate social responsibility, as it underscores the company’s belief that environmental sustainability requires practical interventions that support the people at the forefront of environmental protection.

“We recognise the important work that waste management workers do every day to keep our communities clean. Their contribution is critical, yet it often goes unrecognised. This initiative is our way of appreciating them while supporting them with the tools they need to carry out their responsibilities more effectively,” Eze said.

He explained that the donated coveralls themselves demonstrate the value of waste recovery, noting that approximately 30 per cent of the materials used in producing them were sourced from recyclable waste generated from the company’s sausage and beverage packaging.

According to Eze, materials that could have ended up in drains or landfills were instead recovered and transformed into useful products, reinforcing the company’s commitment to a circular economy.

“This is a practical demonstration that what we call waste can become a resource when properly recovered and recycled. We are continually exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and create value from materials that would otherwise be discarded,” he added.

Eze disclosed that Rite Foods is pursuing an ambitious sustainability target of achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030, meaning waste generated from its operations will be recycled into other useful products rather than disposed at dumpsites.

He said environmental sustainability remains a key pillar of the company’s business philosophy, which makes its collaboration with OGWAMA particularly significant, especially in Ogun State where Rite Foods operates a manufacturing facility.

He also recalled that in 2025, the company donated school bags produced from recycled waste materials to school children in Lagos and Ogun States as part of its Children’s Day activities.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Hon. Farouk Akintunde Adeniyi, commended Rite Foods for the donation and its sustained commitment to environmental cleanliness in Ogun State.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, applauded the initiative and acknowledged the company’s longstanding support for OGWAMA and its workforce.

She noted that the partnership has contributed significantly to strengthening the efforts of waste workers in the effective delivery of their duties.

The intervention comes after Rite Foods clinched two honours at the 2026 EDGE Awards, where its Managing Director, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, was named Outstanding FMCG Brand Entrepreneur of the Year, while the company was recognised as Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year.

Rite Foods’ portfolio includes Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bigi Premium Drinking Water, Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink, Rite Spicy Beef and Bigi Sausage variants, as well as its newly introduced LIDA Malt.