Nigerian Consumers Decide: CVA begins vote verification ahead of September awards

Stanley Ihedigbo

The fifth edition of the Consumers Value Awards (CVA) has officially closed its nationwide voting exercise, ushering in the crucial vote verification stage ahead of the highly anticipated awards ceremony scheduled for September 23, 2026.

The milestone event marks another significant chapter for Nigeria’s foremost consumer-driven recognition platform, where consumers—not industry panels—determine the brands and public institutions that have consistently delivered outstanding value.

Speaking on the conclusion of the voting exercise, Convener of the Consumers Value Awards, Mr. Akonte Ekine, described the overwhelming participation by Nigerians as a clear demonstration of the increasing influence of consumers in shaping business excellence and corporate accountability.

According to him, every vote reflects consumers’ experiences, confidence and expectations from brands and institutions, adding that the credibility of the awards rests on ensuring that each vote is thoroughly verified.

“Every vote represents a consumer’s experience, confidence and expectation. The conclusion of voting is not the end of the process; it is the beginning of the most critical phase, where every vote is carefully verified to preserve the integrity of the awards,” Ekine said.

He explained that the Consumers Value Awards has continued to distinguish itself by placing consumers at the heart of the recognition process, making it one of the country’s most credible platforms for measuring public perception of brand performance.

“Consumers are the ultimate judges of value. They interact with brands every day and are best positioned to determine which organisations consistently deliver on their promises. Their collective voice gives these awards their credibility and significance,” he added.

Following the close of voting, the CVA Secretariat has commenced a comprehensive verification and validation of all votes to ensure accuracy, transparency and fairness before the final results are certified.

The exercise will be followed by the preparation and dispatch of official notification letters to organisations that emerge victorious in their respective categories.

Ekine noted that receiving an official notification from the Consumers Value Awards signifies more than an invitation to an awards ceremony.

“It is confirmation that Nigerian consumers have recognised a brand’s commitment to quality, service, innovation and trust,” he said.

This year’s edition is particularly significant as it commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Consumers Value Awards, reflecting the remarkable growth of consumer participation since the initiative was launched in 2022.

Over the years, the platform has evolved into a respected benchmark for recognising excellence while encouraging organisations to prioritise customer satisfaction, accountability and value creation in their operations.

Commenting on changing consumer behaviour, Ekine observed that today’s consumers evaluate brands on much more than competitive pricing.

According to him, reliability, responsiveness, transparency and the overall customer experience have become key factors influencing purchasing decisions and long-term loyalty.

“Consumers are looking at reliability, responsiveness, transparency and the overall experience they receive. The brands that consistently earn trust are the brands that remain relevant,” he stated.

The winners of the fifth edition will be unveiled and honoured during the Consumers Value Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, where business leaders, regulators, marketing professionals, corporate communicators, consumer advocates and other stakeholders are expected to gather to celebrate excellence driven by consumer choice.

Ekine stressed that the event has grown beyond a conventional awards presentation to become a national platform promoting trust, accountability and consumer confidence across industries.

“The Consumers Value Awards have become a national conversation about trust, accountability and consumer confidence. Every edition reminds us that the consumer is not merely buying products and services—they are helping to define the standards by which brands are judged,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to consumers who participated in the voting process and to the nominated organisations for embracing consumer engagement.

According to him, every nomination and every vote sends a powerful message that consumers are paying close attention to how brands deliver value.

“As the countdown to September 23 begins, successful organisations will soon begin receiving official notifications from the Consumers Value Awards Secretariat. The voting has closed, but the voice of the consumer is only beginning to be heard. On September 23, we will celebrate outstanding brands, but more importantly, we will celebrate the growing influence of the Nigerian consumer in shaping better businesses and stronger institutions,” Ekine concluded.

The Consumers Value Awards, organised by BrandXchange, is Nigeria’s leading consumer-driven recognition platform celebrating brands, products, services and public institutions that consistently deliver outstanding value.

Since its inception in 2022, the initiative has promoted consumer participation, service excellence and brand accountability by giving Nigerians a direct voice in recognising organisations that positively impact their everyday lives.