Rite Foods, Stakeholders Advocate Acceleration of Nigeria’s Transition to Clean Energy

Peter Uzoho

Rite Foods Limited and stakeholders in the Nigerian clean energy and climate change space have made an urgent call for the country to accelerate its plan to transition from the use of dirty and hazardous fossil fuels to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources such as renewables.

The FMCG company also restated its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and clean energy adoption.

The stakeholders made the call at the Rite Food’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, when the company marked the 2026 International Day of Clean Energy with a high-level multi-stakeholders’ engagement focused on Nigeria’s energy transition journey and sustainable industrialization.

The forum themed “Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition: Balancing Risks, Trade-offs and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth,” was attended by government officials, regulators, energy experts, manufacturers, suppliers, sustainability advocates and media to examine practical pathways for integrating renewable energy solutions across Nigeria’s FMCG sector.

As a market leader, Rite Foods continues to integrate cleaner and more efficient energy solutions into its manufacturing operations, significantly reducing its carbon footprint while consistently delivering its portfolio of innovative, award-winning brands to consumers nationwide.

This approach reflects the company’s ability to balance operational resilience with environmental responsibility within Nigeria’s challenging power landscape.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rite Foods, Mr Seleem Adegunwa, reiterated Rite Foods’ commitment to embedding sustainability into its long-term growth plans while aligning strong business performance with environmental responsibility.

Represented by the General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Rite Foods, Mrs Barong Asiodu, Adegunwa said: ““For us at Rite Foods, energy is a business continuity priority. As the manufacturing landscape evolves, companies must proactively strengthen their energy resilience while reducing environmental impact.

“Our investments in cleaner energy reflect disciplined long-term thinking about competitiveness, efficiency, and responsible growth. More importantly, we recognize that industry progress accelerates when stakeholders share knowledge and align on practical pathways forward.”

In her keynote address, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, emphasized clean energy as both an environmental necessity and a strategic economic opportunity for Nigeria.

She explained that Nigeria’s clean energy transition requires a deliberate shift from fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and diesel to sustainable sources including solar, wind, and hydropower, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), the Paris Agreement, and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which targets net-zero emissions by 2060.

Oshodi highlighted the country’s current energy realities limited electricity access, heavy reliance on biomass for cooking, and the health and environmental consequences of prolonged generator and firewood use. She noted that while delayed transition comes at a high cost to public health, forests, and emissions, a poorly financed rapid transition could also strain economic stability.

Commending Rite Foods for convening the dialogue, Oshodi described the engagement as timely and impactful, praising the company for demonstrating strong private-sector leadership in advancing Nigeria’s clean energy agenda.

She added that industry-led initiatives such as this play a critical role in strengthening national economic growth, industrial resilience, and Africa’s competitiveness.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Rite Foods, Mr. Ekuma Eze. described clean energy as central to the company’s long-term business strategy.

“At Rite Foods, clean energy is not optional; it is a strategic business imperative. Our approach acknowledges the realities of industrial operations in Nigeria while deliberately pursuing cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient energy solutions that support sustainability, productivity, and business continuity,” he said.

Rite Foods disclosed that 95 per cent of its energy consumption comes from cleaner sources, including natural gas and solar power, with diesel accounting for just five per cent of its energy mix. This shift has significantly reduced the company’s reliance on more carbon-intensive fuels across its manufacturing facilities.