Take services closer to Nigerians: Ekine tells FCCPC to expand to 774 LGAs

Stanley Ihedigbo

Founder & Lead Strategist, Absolute PR, and Convener, Consumers Value Awards, Akonte Ekine, has advised the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to expand its offices across the 774 local governments.

Ekine who made this known during Consumers’ Experience Summit/Awards 2024 with the theme: Empowering Consumers: Shaping the Future of Experience yesterday in Lagos disclosed that, it is important to note the literacy level of the consumers and attempt to provide local offices for more people to reach them, noting that if truly we want to improve experience we need to have a national campaign on Consumer Rights and produce copies of the legislation in local languages (the Book by Mrs. Shola Salako Ajulo should be in local languages).

According to him, “All companies should have an independent feedback department responsible for attending to consumers’ queries dailies, and we should have laws on consumers’ responses not more than 24 hours.”

Speaking further, he pointed out that “lets us also establish that with over 200 million consumers, there will be 200 million different experiences that we can say are good and bad or a mixed bag of experiences.”

“It is also important to establish that the experiences will differ from industry to industry. Today, we can all connect with ease legal or judiciary sector with the development of the narratives ongoing in the published work of Dele Farotimi. That experience is in the public domain and that is one experience that has been seen in a sector of the economy and the consumers and practitioners of law are contending with.” He said.

Continuing, he added, “Choma Okoli and the Erisco Tomato paste is a classic case for us in FMCG.

“According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is a “fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation or practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or a particular activity.” He noted.

Further speaking, he disclosed that “we as consumers are also gaining experiences daily in various markets depending on where we are buying and what we are buying and from whom we are buying. Unfortunately, there are mutual markets we are not allowed to stay away from but compelled by regulations to consume the same products and service even when our income differs.”

“As consumers, we are playing in the same market, and that market can simply be classified as the public sector or private sector market. In these markets, the operators’ behaviour even affect the service experience. What do you think about the behaviour of the operators? I am sure you can connect with that and use that as your evaluation of your experience of yourself in the marketplace.” He noted.

Talking about a marketplace, he continued, “We are aware that we have moved the market from the physical location to our devices. You know, back then, we defined the market as a place where sellers and buyers met to conclude a transaction and exchange money. Today, we do all the elements of the market on our devices.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of the summit, Godwin Anyebe, who welcomed attendees to the summit, disclosed that “today marks an extraordinary opportunity to gather as thought leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from various sectors to explore how we can redefine the consumer journey and deliver experiences that truly empower individuals. As consumer preferences evolve at an unprecedented pace, our theme underscores the critical need to adapt, innovate, and place consumers at the heart of every strategy and decision.”

According to him, “This summit is more than just a conversation—it is a collaborative platform for ideation, learning, and actionable solutions. We will hear from seasoned experts, engage in transformative discussions, and gain insights into trends shaping the future of consumer experiences across industries.”

“I encourage each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and network with fellow visionaries to create a collective blueprint for empowering consumers in meaningful ways. Together, we can shape experiences that are not only innovative but also sustainable, inclusive, and human-centered.” He added.

Meanwhile, Consumers’ Assembly Presents the Award for Most Innovative Property Company of the Year 2024, to Nehemiah Grace Developers Ltd, the Award for Excellence in Real Estate Development and Customer Satisfaction, 2024 went to Sow Eleal Estate, and Cynosure Aesthetic took home the award for Best Aesthetic Care and Customer Satisfaction Award 2024 and award for Excellent in Sustainable Resource Management, 2024, goes to Iron Resource Management.