LEADING food and beverage company, Rite Foods Limited, has restated its commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through its sponsorship of the 2024 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival slated for Tuesday, June 18 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Unveiling this year’s edition of the annual ancient festival celebrated by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-Ode, Head of Marketing, Rites Food Limited, Ms. Boma Harrison, affirmed that the company’s continuous sponsorship of the Ojude Oba Festival was in demonstration of its commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural values of its communities as a proudly Nigerian Company.
She said, “We are deeply committed to investing time, expertise and resources in advancing locally relevant initiatives in our communities. We view culture as a vital part of who we are as individuals and as a people.”
“As a socially responsible corporate citizen, our loyalty to His Royal Majesty, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Alaiyeluwa Ọba (Dr) Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna, CFR, J.P, and commitment to the Ojude Oba Festival demonstrate our belief that promoting the interest of our communities is a collective responsibility.
“We are excited to be in the vanguard of preserving the identity and civilization of the Ijebu societies, fostering unity, and promoting social and cultural cohesion,” Harrison added.
Like in the previous editions, she restated that the company will refresh and delight participants with its quality products to make the event memorable and exciting.
Speaking on this year’s festival, the Chairman of the Ojude Oba Festival 2024 Planning Committee, Chief (Barr.) Olu B. Okuboyejo, said “the highlight of the event will include 90 Age Grade performances dubbed ‘Regberegbe’, both male and female, with the prizes for the winning team, and the first and second runners-up, and 25 families of warlords, showcasing their dexterity in a peaceful and orderly manner that depicts their past experience in warfare.”
“The rich cultural heritage dates back to about two centuries and is widely cherished by the indigenes both at home and in the diaspora. This year’s edition, themed: “Ojude Oba: Peace, Unity and Harmony, Our Gifts”, re-echoes the pristine objective of Ojude Oba, which is to foster unity and peaceful co-existence in the community,” he added.
Okuboyejo noted that the annual festival which usually takes place the third day after Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah), to pay homage and show respect to the Royal Majesty, the Awujale of Ijebuland, also serve as a unification of all sons and daughters of Ijebuland.
According to him, “Ojude Oba brings about love, mutual understanding, and peaceful co-existence that define what we the Ijebu stand for. Also, it enhances the tourism potential of the area, as it plays host to visitors from other parts of the globe.”
On his part, the coordinator of the annual event, Chief (Dr.) Fassy Yusuf (Baagbimo of Ijebu), applauded Rite Foods and all sponsors for their unwavering support for the upcoming festival and for previous events that have made the Ijebu nation popular in the country and beyond.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Sesan Fagbayi, said the present administration under Gover Dapo Abiodun felicitates with the Ijebu people as they celebrate the annual Festival which serves as a unique forum for cultural and national development of the sons and daughters of the land.
With award-winning brands, Rite Foods’ consumer-centricity has been demonstrated through credible platforms and sponsorships that have earned it numerous awards which include the ‘Most Innovative Carbonated Soft Drink Brand of the Year’ for the Bigi brand; ‘Most Outstanding Energy Drink in Consumer Engagement’ for its number-one energy drink, the Fearless brand; ‘Best Value for Money – Carbonated Drink Brand 2023’ for Bigi Cola; ‘Best Value for Money – Energy Drinks Brand 2023’ for Fearless Energy Drink, and ‘Best Value for Money – Sausage Brand 2023’ for Bigi Beef Sausage Roll. Also, the premium Sosa Fruit Drink won the ‘Outstanding New Product of the Year – Juice’ in 2023.
