Rite Foods, JAMB Reward Undergraduates With N35m, Mentorship And Internship Opportunities

Rite Foods and JAMB have rewarded undergraduates with N35m, mentorship and internship opportunities.

NewsRain Nigeria reports that Rite Foods Limited, Nigeria’s food and beverage company, in partnership with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), rewarded seven highest-performing candidates in public universities in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

The award ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Civic Centre, Lagos, witnessed each of the candidates receive N5 million, totaling N35 million.

The initiative, known as the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Award, recognised the best-performing matriculants from the six geopolitical zones and one beneficiary under JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group category.

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Speaking at the maiden award ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rite Foods Limited, Seleem Adegunwa, said the initiative was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to education and youth development.

He said, “Today is more than a ceremony. It is a celebration of excellence, a vote of confidence in the potential of Nigerian youths, and a demonstration of what can be achieved when institutions come together to invest in the future of our country.”

Adegunwa added, “At Rite Foods, we firmly believe that Nigeria’s future will be shaped by the quality of its young people.”

He disclosed that the company would commit N35 million annually to reward exceptional students across the country.

According to him, “We are sending a clear message to millions of young Nigerians: excellence matters, hard work pays, and outstanding achievement deserves recognition.”

The Rite Foods boss explained that beneficiaries emerged through a rigorous selection process coordinated by JAMB using candidates’ performances in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Post-UTME screening exercises.

He said the initiative aligns with the company’s corporate citizenship philosophy and sustainability agenda under its EYEC framework, which focuses on Education, Youth Empowerment, Environmental Stewardship and Community Development.

Among the beneficiaries of the maiden edition are Orzekor Godwin (Software Engineering), Federal University of Technology, Minna; Vincent Daniel (Medicine and Surgery), University of Maiduguri; Luka Miendwas (Software Engineering), Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia; Joshua Chidiebere (Software Engineering), Federal University of Technology, Owerri; James Victor (Medicine and Surgery), University of Uyo; Okeke Christian (Mechanical Engineering), University of Lagos.

The JAMB Equal Opportunity Group Award went to Tijesuni Mitchelle Ogunsua-Dixon, a Communication and Media Studies student of the University of Lagos, who lost her sight following brain tumour surgery but excelled academically with an aggregate score of 81.20 per cent.

Adegunwa said beneficiaries would also enjoy mentorship opportunities with members of the company’s leadership team and internship placements during their undergraduate studies.

“This is to give you industry experience and prepare you for real life after school,” he said.

He urged Nigerian youths to embrace education as a tool for national development.

“Education is power and one of the most reliable tools to lift individuals, communities and nations out of poverty,” he stated.

The Rite Foods CEO expressed optimism that the initiative would inspire more students to pursue excellence and contribute to national development.

“We look forward to building an enduring legacy of excellence, opportunity and national development,” he added.

In his remarks, JAMB Registrar,  Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the board accepted to partner with Rite Foods because the process of selection was holistic and transparent.

“We accepted the partnership because it was holistic and practical. The proposal ensured that the candidate who emerged as the best is assessed comprehensively.

It was not based on just one section of the evaluation; rather, it took into account the entire assessment process. That is why we embraced it.

It is not simply about being the best in the UTME or the SSCE, but about being the best overall, and that is what we are celebrating today.”

Also, the Minister of Education,  represented by the  Special Adviser,  Dr Ismaila Adiatu, applauded Rite Foods and JAMB, noting that the award is a powerful statement that Nigeria rewards merit, diligence, and discipline.

“This award is a celebration of academic excellence. Today, we celebrate outstanding young Nigerians who, through hard work, determination, and intellectual excellence, distinguished themselves and emerged among the best candidates for admission.

“This award is a recognition of diligence, perseverance, and academic achievement. It also serves as an encouragement to students to continue striving for excellence.”

He urged the government to continue supporting academic and intellectual development in Nigeria by investing in education and creating opportunities for young people to succeed.”

The minister noted that the present administration believes that the greatest investment any country can make is investment in its people, particularly the young people.

“That is why the ministry has embarked on educational sector reform to reposition education for our graduates to be  globally competitive and  equipped with the knowledge, skill,  innovation required for the 21st century.”

Finally, Okeke Chinedu, from the South West region, who scored the highest with 93.90 percent in Software Engineering, thanked JAMB and the company for the award, promising that he will not let them down as he will do his best.