The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, has commended Rite Foods Limited for promoting academic excellence through its National Academic Excellence Awards, describing the initiative as a significant investment in Nigeria’s future and a worthy recognition of outstanding students.
Professor Ogunsola gave the commendation on Monday while receiving two UNILAG students who emerged winners at the inaugural Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards.
The awardees, Chinedu Okeke Christian, recognised as the Overall Best Matriculating Student in the South-West, and Tijesuni Michelle Ogunsua-Dixon, winner of the Equal Opportunity Group category, presented their scholarship cheques to the university management.
UNILAG is the only tertiary institution to produce two award winners in the maiden edition of the awards.
Speaking during the presentation, Ogunsola praised Rite Foods for complementing the efforts of tertiary institutions by rewarding academic excellence through private sector support.
She said the initiative demonstrates how corporate organisations can make meaningful contributions to education by recognising students who have distinguished themselves academically while also promoting inclusion through the Equal Opportunity category.
According to her, the awards send a strong message that excellence, hard work and resilience deserve recognition and would inspire more young Nigerians to strive for academic success.
Representing Rite Foods, the company’s Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Dennise Aideloje, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians through education and other social investment initiatives.
Aideloje said the National Academic Excellence Awards were established to celebrate exceptional students whose dedication and academic achievements deserve recognition, expressing hope that the initiative would inspire more students to pursue excellence.
The Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards recognise the best matriculating students across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones using a selection process based on candidates’ aggregate performance in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), O’Level results and Post-UTME scores.
The initiative also honours outstanding students in the Equal Opportunity category, reinforcing the company’s commitment to inclusion and equal access to educational opportunities.
The award recipients thanked Rite Foods for the recognition, saying the scholarships would motivate them to remain committed to academic excellence and contribute positively to society.
Rite Foods said the initiative forms part of its EYEC Corporate Social Responsibility framework aimed at supporting education, nurturing exceptional talent and empowering the next generation of Nigerian leaders.