Rite Foods Limited, last week, commemorated the International Women’s Month by hosting female entrepreneurs to an exhibition at the Lagos Continental Hotel.
The maiden event themed, ‘Food, Drinks and Her march edition’ , designed to recognise, support and celebrate women entrepreneurs in the food and drinks industry in Nigeria, featured insightful sessions, as speakers took turns to highlight issues and proffer solutions on how women can effectively build profitable and innovative businesses
While delivering the keynote speech, Seleem Adegunwa, managing director, RFL said the event was the company’s way of celebrating the International Women’s Day, and bringing to the front burner the importance of gender parity in the workplace and empowering women in business.
He said, most times, people wouldn’t see women as entrepreneurs in the society, which was why the company empowered them to bring to the forefront, their businesses.
Adegunwa, whose company makes Bigi & Rite Sausages, Bigi Beverages, Bigi Premium Table Water and Fearless Energy Drinks, explained that: “Many societies still have a long journey in the appreciation of women empowerment and the impact on society. It cannot be over emphasised that what women teach has a positive impact and what they do not teach has a negative impact on the society, the country and hence generations. We are in full support of a gender-balanced society.”
On the exhibition, he noted, “As a food and beverage company, it was natural that our thoughts gravitated towards the idea of recognising, celebrating and ultimately empowering female, food and drinks entrepreneurs by providing a platform where they can showcase their entrepreneurial spirit, network among themselves for positive alignments for future successes and most importantly, have fun while doing it.”
“This is why it is heart lifting for me, seeing this hall filled with a fine mix of established names and fast-rising female entrepreneurs, all set and ready to unleash. We do hope that dreams come true for you all.”
Ahead of the event, Adegunwa had lamented that women and girls who represent half of the world’s population, were still subjected to all sorts of gender discriminative practices in Nigeria despite the country’s membership of the United Nations.
“This event was primarily designed to promote the feminine gender and create a platform highlighting the strength of a woman, their survival in the male- dominated society, and also provides a platform where women can interact, educate and pitch ideas to each other.”
The event, which had over 35 selected food and drinks vendors displaying their products and services to guest and participants, also featured two panel sessions, with 21 successful female entrepreneurs panelists sharing their stories and also providing insights into how fellow female entrepreneurs can access investment opportunities, to grow their businesses in Nigeria.
David Ibemere
