By Elizabeth Osayande

The Managing Director of Rite Foods, Saleem Adegunwa, has articulated the company’s commitment to investing a total of N35 million in the seven highest-performing candidates from public universities in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, aims to foster a culture of excellence in Nigeria, celebrate educational achievements, and elevate the aspirations of the younger generation.

During this symbolic event, each of the six geopolitical zones was represented, with each candidate receiving N5 million, in addition to a special award for a recipient from JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group.

Adegunwa emphasized the significance of these awards, stating, “Our aspiration at Rite Foods is to make excellence visible, aspirational, and repeatable. We are creating a platform that honors merit, inspires ambition, and motivates future generations to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.”

“Our collaboration with JAMB is a celebration of excellence, a vote of confidence in the potential of Nigerian youth, and a testament to what can be achieved when institutions unite to invest in the future of our nation.”

“At Rite Foods, we firmly believe that Nigeria’s future hinges on the quality of its young people. Hence, this initiative transcends mere academic rewards; it is about recognizing brilliance, fostering aspiration, and empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, professionals, and nation-builders.”

“As a proudly Nigerian and world-class company, Rite Foods is rooted in the belief that Nigerian excellence can compete on a global scale. Our evolution from a local enterprise to one of Nigeria’s most esteemed fast-moving consumer goods companies showcases the power of vision, innovation, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to quality—values that resonate deeply within this partnership.”

“In this initiative, we are pledging N35 million annually to reward the highest-performing matriculants across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.”

“By doing this, we are sending a clear and powerful message to millions of young Nigerians: Excellence matters, hard work yields results, and outstanding achievements deserve recognition. Education is one of the most potent drivers of national development; no nation can rise above the quality of its human capital, and sustainable economic growth is impossible without substantial investment in the education and empowerment of its youth. Supporting education, for us, is not just a corporate responsibility; it is a national imperative.”

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, noting that the selection process was both holistic and transparent.

“We embraced this partnership because it was practical and comprehensive. The proposal ensured that the candidate who emerged as the best was evaluated thoroughly. It wasn’t based solely on one segment of the evaluation; every aspect of the assessment process was taken into account. That is why we are celebrating today—not merely the top performer in the UTME or the SSCE, but the overall best.”

The Minister of Education, represented by Special Adviser Dr. Ismaila Adiatu, remarked that the Rite Foods-JAMB partnership makes a powerful statement about Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding merit, diligence, and discipline.

“This award celebrates academic excellence. We are here to honor outstanding young Nigerians who, through their hard work, determination, and intellectual brilliance, have distinguished themselves among the best candidates for admission.”

“This recognition embodies diligence, perseverance, and academic success, encouraging students to relentlessly pursue excellence.”

He urged the government to continue fostering academic and intellectual growth in Nigeria through substantial investments in education and the creation of opportunities for young people to thrive.

The minister emphasized that the current administration believes that the greatest investment any nation can make is in its people, particularly the youth.

“That is why the ministry has embarked on an educational reform to ensure our graduates are globally competitive and equipped with the knowledge, skills, and innovation necessary for the 21st century.”

Okeke Chinedu, from the South West region, who achieved the highest score of 93.90 percent in Software Engineering, expressed his gratitude to JAMB and Rite Foods for the award, promising to honor their investment by striving for excellence.