The private sector is taking a lead role in the country’s clean energy transition, with companies adopting renewable and low-carbon solutions to drive industrial sustainability.

At the forefront, Rite Foods Limited reported that 95 per cent of its manufacturing operations are now driven by cleaner energy sources, signalling a shift from more carbon-intensive fuels.

The company highlighted its efforts during the 2026 International Day of Clean Energy, where it hosted a multi-stakeholder forum in Lagos to explore practical pathways for renewable energy adoption across the FMCG sector.

The forum, themed ‘Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition: Balancing Risks, Trade-offs and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth’, brought together government officials, regulators, energy experts, manufacturers, suppliers, sustainability advocates and media to discuss practical pathways for integrating renewable energy solutions across Nigeria’s FMCG sector.

The firm said it has integrated cleaner and more efficient energy solutions into its manufacturing operations, significantly reducing its carbon footprint while consistently delivering a portfolio of innovative, award-winning brands nationwide.

Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, Ekuma Eze, described clean energy as central to the company’s long-term strategy.

“Clean energy is not optional; it is a strategic business imperative. Our approach acknowledges the realities of industrial operations in Nigeria while deliberately pursuing cleaner, more efficient and more resilient energy solutions that support sustainability, productivity, and business continuity,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos state, Titilayo Oshodi, emphasised clean energy as both an environmental necessity and a strategic economic opportunity for Nigeria.

She highlighted the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and the health and environmental consequences of generator and firewood use, urging a deliberate transition to solar, wind, and hydropower in alignment with SDG 7, the Paris Agreement, and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), targeting net-zero emissions by 2060.