Abayomi Susan
Rite Foods Limited, Nigeria’s foremost food and beverage company, has partnered with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to institute the Academic Excellence Recognition Awards, a ₦35 million initiative aimed at celebrating exceptional academic achievement among Nigerian undergraduates admitted during the 2025 admission exercise.
The initiative will recognise seven outstanding students, each of whom will receive a cash award of ₦5 million following a transparent, merit-driven selection process conducted by JAMB. The maiden edition of the award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Lagos.
Announcing the initiative, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, described the award as a significant milestone in promoting academic excellence and rewarding exceptional performance among Nigerian students. He explained that the beneficiaries distinguished themselves through outstanding results in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as well as their respective Post-UTME or institutional screening exercises.
According to him, “Each of the seven beneficiaries will receive ₦5 million in recognition of their exceptional academic performance. Our partnership with Rite Foods reflects a shared commitment to rewarding merit, encouraging academic excellence, and inspiring young Nigerians to pursue excellence throughout their educational journey.”
Speaking on the collaboration, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, Ekuma Eze, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that nurture talent and reward excellence.
“At Rite Foods, we believe excellence should not only be recognised but celebrated. Through this partnership with JAMB, we are delighted to honour these exceptional students while reinforcing the values of hard work, discipline and outstanding achievement. Beyond producing quality brands, we remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities that empower young Nigerians to unlock their full potential and emerge as future leaders,” he said.
The award recipients will comprise one outstanding undergraduate from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alongside the highest-performing admitted candidate living with a disability. The initiative underscores the shared commitment of Rite Foods and JAMB to meritocracy, inclusiveness and national development through education.
The inaugural Academic Excellence Recognition Award Ceremony is expected to attract a distinguished audience, including the Minister of Education, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, vice-chancellors of tertiary institutions, heads of regulatory agencies, education stakeholders, corporate executives, students and members of the media.
By recognising and rewarding academic distinction, Rite Foods and JAMB hope to inspire a new generation of scholars, reinforce the value of educational excellence and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s human capital development.
