By Udeme Akpan

When Rite Foods Limited, a subsidiary of Ess Ay Holdings Limited, set out to diversify and innovate in 2007, Nigeria’s food sector was dominated by some global brands, while others imported many products for distribution and marketing in the domestic market. Indeed, Nigeria was a dumping ground for all kinds of imported products.

This culminated in multiplier effects, including industrial expansion and increased employment opportunities abroad, which stifled growth in Nigeria, leading to greater dependence, stagnation, and massive unemployment.
But Seleem Adegunwa, the pioneer Managing Director/CEO – a seasoned Chief Executive with diverse experience in operations, sales and strategy – has changed the narrative positively in the past 18 years. Through his uncommon leadership, the company started with comprehensive research to understand and analyse the Nigerian market. This culminated in the development of relevant, customised products or brands, engaging and training a competent workforce composed mostly of Nigerians, and sourcing local raw materials to build a proudly Nigerian brand that competes at a world-class level.
Consequently, the company’s beverage and sausage brands – Bigi, Fearless, and Sosa, as well as Bigi Beef, Rite Spicy and Bigi Flex sausages – have become household names, enjoyed at family gatherings, events, celebrations, and everywhere people come together. These are not just food and beverages – they are a delight, crafted with quality and excellence.
Interestingly, these homegrown brands have become market leaders in their respective categories, indicating consumers’ endorsement of the high quality of these food and beverage brands.
The beverage plant is designed with precision engineering. With cutting-edge technology and rigorous quality standards, the company produces beverages that deliver exceptional taste and consistent quality, ensuring that every drink is crafted to meet the highest industry standards while catering to diverse consumer preferences.
Similarly, the bakery plant is equipped to handle high-volume production while ensuring each product meets the consistent quality that has made Bigi and Rite Sausage Rolls household names. With world-class equipment and rigorous quality standards, this facility produces iconic sausage rolls that have become staples for millions of Nigerians. It is the most modern bakery facility in the country, with the latest technology obtainable.
Also, Rite Foods’ CO plant is a hub of efficiency and opportunity, serving not only the company’s beverage operations but also external businesses in need of high-quality CO?. This plant isn’t just a facility – it’s a statement of how the Company leverages innovation to create value both within and beyond its operations. With the CO? plant, the company guarantees a seamless supply of CO? for its beverage operations and supports other industries across the food and beverage, manufacturing, processing, and healthcare sectors.
This would not have been possible without a strong education, global experience, and a lasting commitment by the Chief Executive Officer. Mr Adegunwa has a first degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in International Business from Birmingham City University and the University of Bristol, respectively. He is passionate about driving business growth and achieving exceptional results. His ability to optimise business processes, streamline operations, and implement innovative strategies has been key to steering Rite Foods Limited toward developing leading brands and enhancing overall organisational efficiency.
Mr Adegunwa has a keen eye for sales and marketing spanning 28 years. Before his current role at Rite Foods Ltd, he was the General Manager, Sales and Marketing, at Ess Ay Holdings Ltd. His entrepreneurial mindset and quest for excellence drive him to identify market trends and capitalise on emerging opportunities, consistently boosting growth and market share in a competitive landscape.
This has, over the years, impacted the nation’s economy in many positive ways, especially in employment creation, capacity building, revenue generation, and economic growth. It is against these and other outstanding accomplishments that Seleem Adegunwa, a former Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State, and a strong advocate of good corporate governance, is the Vanguard Industrialist of the Year, 2025.