…Reinforces commitment to environmental sustainability and zero-waste-to-landfill goal
Rite Foods Limited, a leading Nigerian food and beverage company, has donated 600 protective coveralls and other waste management tools to workers of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), in recognition of their critical role in keeping communities clean and healthy.
The initiative, undertaken to commemorate World Cleanup Day 2026, themed “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,”highlights Rite Foods’ commitment to environmental sustainability, waste recovery and the advancement of a circular economy.
The items were 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 and the Ogun State public sector, who commended Rite Foods for its sustained environmental initiatives and support for waste management efforts in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Ekuma Eze, said the donation was designed to recognise and support the waste management workers whose daily efforts are essential to maintaining cleaner and healthier communities.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond corporate social responsibility, as it demonstrates Rite Foods’ belief that environmental sustainability requires practical interventions that create value from waste while supporting 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 initiative also reflects Rite Foods’ broader sustainability agenda, which includes ecological preservation, waste recovery and recycling through programmes such as its Riteonthebeach initiative, which focuses on waste collection and recycling across Lagos and its shoreline communities.
Eze disclosed that the donated coveralls themselves represent the possibilities inherent in waste recovery, noting that approximately 30 per cent of the materials used in producing the coveralls were sourced from recyclable waste generated from the company’s sausage and beverage packaging.
He explained that materials that could otherwise have ended up in drains or landfills had instead been recovered and transformed into useful products, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the principles of 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 said.
Eze further disclosed that Rite Foods is pursuing an ambitious waste management strategy aimed at achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030.
“We believe that by 2030, we should have achieved zero waste to landfill, meaning that the waste we generate from our operations will not end up in landfills, but will be recycled into other useful products,” he said.
He added that environmental sustainability remains a key pillar of Rite Foods’ business philosophy, making its collaboration with OGWAMA particularly significant.
According to him, the partnership reflects the company’s recognition of OGWAMA as a critical stakeholder in the collective effort to build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable society, particularly in Ogun State, where Rite Foods operates a world-class manufacturing facility equipped with modern infrastructure and low-emission technology.
Eze also recalled that, in 2025, Rite Foods donated school bags produced from recycled waste materials to children in schools across Lagos and Ogun States as part of its Children’s Day activities, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to converting waste into social value.
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 supporting environmental cleanliness in Ogun State.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Dr. (Mrs.) Kafayat Lawal, applauded the initiative and acknowledged Rite Foods’ longstanding support for OGWAMA and its waste management workforce.
She noted that the company’s partnership with the Authority has contributed significantly to strengthening the efforts of waste management workers in the effective delivery of their responsibilities.
Rite Foods’ latest sustainability intervention comes on the heels of the company’s recognition at the 2026 EDGE Awards, where it clinched two major honours. Its Managing Director, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, was named Outstanding FMCG Brand Entrepreneur of the Year, while Rite Foods was recognised as Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year.
The company has also expanded its portfolio with the introduction of LIDA Malt, joining an impressive range of brands that includes the 13 variants of Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bigi Premium Drinking Water, five variants of Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink, Rite Spicy Beef Sausage, Bigi Beef Sausage and Bigi Flex Sausage.
