By Ayomide Otitoju
The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) has honoured the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, with the Most Influential FMCG Executive of the Year award at the 2025 MIPAD End of Year Dinner and Awards.
MIPAD said the recognition was in acknowledgement of Adegunwa’s leadership, which it noted continues to inspire excellence across Africa’s business landscape.
MIPAD is a global civil society initiative aligned with the United Nations’ First and Second International Decades for People of African Descent (2015–2024 and 2025–2034), focused on celebrating individuals whose impact cuts across borders and generations.
Under Adegunwa’s leadership, Rite Foods has emerged as a major player in Nigeria’s food and beverage industry, driven by a portfolio of award-winning brands. These include the 13 variants of Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bigi Table Water, Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink, as well as Bigi Flex, Rite Spicy and Bigi Beef Sausages.
Speaking on the award, MIPAD Co-Founder, Mr. Tope Esan, said the organisation recognises individuals whose influence transcends geography and time, adding that Adegunwa’s commitment to excellence aligns with MIPAD’s vision.
The 2025 MIPAD Awards, held in Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together business leaders, policymakers, media personalities, politicians and industry experts to celebrate outstanding contributions to Africa’s development.
MIPAD noted that past recipients of its awards include global figures such as former U.S. President Barack Obama, Costa Rica’s former Vice President Epsy Campbell, South African comedian Trevor Noah, Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, music icon Beyoncé, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and tennis star Naomi Osaka.
Adegunwa’s leadership has also earned Rite Foods several recent honours, including three awards at the 2025 Edge Awards, formerly the Marketing Edge Awards. The company won Outstanding Carbonated Soft Drink Brand of the Year for Bigi Apple, Outstanding Sausage Brand of the Year for Bigi Beef Sausage Roll, and Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year for Rite Foods Limited.
The MIPAD award adds to the growing list of accolades for Rite Foods, further reinforcing its position as a leading force in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods sector.
