(L-R) Sola Salako-Ajulo, Founder CAFON, Olufemi Ajileye of Rite Foods, Dr. Tinuola Akinnubi of NAFDAC, Mr. Dan Obi, Chairman, BJAN and Dr. Olubunmi Otti of FCCPC, at the BJAN’s Consumer Day event hosted by Rites Foods Ltd, at its Ososa factory, Ogun State.
The general manager of operations, Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Olufemi Ajileye, has stressed the need to respect the rights of consumers all over the world while reaffirming the company’s commitment to producing safe and high-quality products for Nigerians that can compete with global standards.
Mr. Ajileye was speaking at the weekend during a facility tour of the Company at Ososa, near Ijebu Ode in Ogun state by members of Brands Journalists of Nigeria, BJAN and other stakeholders to commemorate this year’s World Consumer Rights Day.
He disclosed that every year, the company sends samples of their water abroad to ensure its safety against heavy metals and other contaminants, adding that they work with trusted vendors and operate some of the best equipment sourced internationally.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of BJAN, Mr. Daniel Obi noted that Brand Journalists occupy a unique and critical ecosystem between regulators, manufacturers and consumers.
Brand Journalists at Rite Foods facility
Said he: “As brand journalists, our responsibility goes beyond reporting what brands say about themselves. We are the bridge between brands and what consumers understand about the products they buy”.
“Today, by standing inside this facility, we are doing exactly what this profession entails by getting close to the truth and bringing the public with us,” he enthused.
According to Mr. Obi, today’s event amongst others, reaffirms BJAN’s commitment to consumer education and accountability journalism, he added.
The Director-General for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ,Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, noted that WCRD reminds us that consumers are not passive participants in the market place but central stakeholders as well.
D-G, NAFDAC, Prof Adeyeye
Represented by Dr. Tinuola Akinnubi, Deputy Director, Food Regulation, Focal point for Alcohol, NAFDAC, she said protecting the consumer is not only a responsibility of the regulators but a shared responsibility by all stakeholders: “Consumers must demand good services at all times adding that journalists must move beyond discussions into commitment to report facts.
Dr. Adeyeye reassured NAFDAC’s position of ensuring that no product that compromises public health thrives in the country.
On a concluding note, she said: “Let industry prioritize compliance over profit margins and safety over shortcuts. Let the media amplify facts over sensationalism. A protected consumer is a confident consumer. A confident consumer strengthens markets. And strong markets build strong nations”.
Armed with a well-researched paper, Mrs. Sola Salako-Ajulo who has been a vocal voice and strong advocate for consumers for over two decades reiterated the need to get Nigerians know their rights against ‘abusive’ tendencies by service providers.
Mrs Sola Salako-Ajulo
“When we talk about consumer protection in Nigeria, we often speak in legal language — policies, regulations, enforcement frameworks, and complaint statistics. But consumerism is not just about laws. It is about the everyday lived experience of Nigerians; the mother who pays for electricity she never receives, the young entrepreneur whose bank account is debited by unexplained charges, the elderly pensioner who unknowingly purchases counterfeit medication, and millions of Nigerians who navigate markets daily that are often opaque, unresponsive, and structurally unfair. That is the true state of consumerism in Nigeria”, she said.
She further disclosed how her organization designed an AI powered platform called CAFON Consumers Companion (3C).
3C, she noted, understands Nigeria consumer rights and is designed to answer issues associated with consumer rights and how to demand for them.
While observing that consumer protection is a responsibility of all in the value chain, Mrs. Salako-Ajulo called on all consumers to educate themselves on their rights.
Her paper was titled: Understanding the Challenges, Progress, and Strategic Pathways for Nigerian Consumers in 2026.
Mr. Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Federal Consumer Competition Protection Commission (FCCPC), who was represented by Dr. Olubunmi Otti, Zonal Coordinator for the South West noted that holding the event at a production facility was particularly fitting.
- Mr. Tunji Bello
Being around where production takes place allows us to see where the journey of many consumer products begins. It is at this stage that safety standards, quality controls and compliance procedures are applied and monitored,” he noted.
Mr. Bello, said that the global observance of the event on March 15 provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting consumers while strengthening trust in the marketplace even as he explained that when consumers are well informed and adequately protected, markets function more efficiently and businesses are able to grow in a stable and predictable environment.
Referencing his remarks in the agency mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, Mr. Bello said: “Under Section 114 of the Act, businesses are required to provide consumers with clear, accurate and understandable information about goods and services, including pricing information, product labelling and proper trade descriptions so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions,” he explained.
“Compliance with safety standards is not just a regulatory obligation. It is an investment in consumer trust and long-term brand credibility,” he observed.
He acknowledged Rite Foods for opening its facility to BJAN and Stakeholders for the tour.
The theme of this year’s WCRD is “Safe Products, Confident Consumers.” It aims at ensuring consumer safety by promoting the removal of hazardous products from the market, fostering trust in goods, and highlighting shared responsibility among governments and businesses for consumer protection.
