Meet Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, The Manufacturer Of Bigi Drinks

Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa is a Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and the founder and chief executive officer of Rite Foods Limited, The manufacturing company of the popular Bigi Drinks.

A native of Ijebu in Ogun State and the former chairman of Sterling Bank Plc. He also founded the  Sulaimon College of Education in Ogun State and Essay Holdings Limited, the Parent Company of Rite Foods Limited.

The Enterprising Adegunwa.

Sulaiman Adegunwa began his career as a photographer, and ventured into entrepreneurship in 1963 when he established ESS-AY Holdings Limited,  a parent company having four companies under its wings; Fototek Industries Limited, Photo Palace Limited, Photo Product Division and Prints Speciality Limited.

This company competed with multinationals such as Kodak, Fuji, Konica Minolta in exporting and importing photographic equipment in several parts of the World.

This company is also responsible for pioneering modern, large-scale technology photographic services in West Africa, making them the largest network of Photographic Services in West Africa.

Furthering his enterprising career, Sulaiman Adegunwa founded Rite food limited in 2008  thereby diversifying into the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

The company producing three variants of sausage brands began to compete for the market share with multinational brands such  Leventis, UAC Foods UTC, etc.

The company also introduced the Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) in 2016 and Fearless Energy Drinks in 2017 making it one of the fastest-growing Foods and Beverages companies in West Africa.

The company set up a world-class factory in Ososa, Ogun state and started production in 2012, and has been able to employ over 3000 Youths as they run most of their operation in the country.

Aside, his investment in the photography and FMCG sector Sulaiman Adegunwa has several investments in the educational sector ranging from primary institutions to tertiary institutions.

Honours and Charity

Sulaiman Adegunwa holds an honorary doctorate degree from Lagos State University and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State. He was also conferred with a national honour of the Officer of the order of Nigeria(OON) by chief Olusegun Obasanjo the former President of Nigeria in 2006.

In 2020  Rite Foods Limited partnered with the Lagos State government in its COVID-19 Emergency Food response Project, to cushion the economic effects of coronavirus. They also provided thousands of bottles of drinking water to support residents of the state.

The Faculties of Law of both Lagos State University and Olabisi Onabanjo University are today better for it, with the financial assistance rendered by (Dr.) Adegunwa.

Aside, his contribution to the law departments in these schools, he donated an Audio Visual Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University College of Health Sciences, and a school of Communication Building worth over N150,000 at the Lagos State University.