Biram Fall, QNET’S Regional Manager, Sub-Saharah Africa, has stressed the need to empower consumers through education and awareness.
Fall who was represented by Nana Quartey, QNET’S Senior Regional Legal Counsel for Sub-Saharah Africa, at a conference and exhibition to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day, which was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, March 15, 2024, stressed on the pivotal role of education and awareness in ensuring that consumers are empowered to assert their rights
He said “Through education, consumers gain the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and protect themselves from exploitation and demand accountability; Empowered consumers safeguard their interests and contribute to a more transparent and competitive marketplace that benefits society as a whole. This significantly strengthens consumer protection laws by enabling consumers to make informed purchase decisions; and educated consumers are also better equipped to identify fraudulent or deceptive practices, report violations of their rights, and advocate for policies that safeguard their interests.”
The conference, with the theme: “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers”, was organised by Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA)
Meanwhile, the World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated annually on March 15.
Fall also elaborated on the various rolls and commitments of QNET on consumer protection and advocacy. “At QNET, we are deeply committed to protecting the rights of our customers and promoting a culture of transparency, integrity, and trust; Through initiatives such as educational campaigns and awareness programs, we strive to empower consumers with the information they need to navigate the marketplace confidently. We also recently launched two campaigns, the social awareness campaign and the Say No Campaign. These campaigns perfectly reflect QNET’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and consumer empowerment.”
He further disclosed that QNET has further implemented robust grievance redressal mechanisms to address customer concerns promptly and effectively. “In response to the prevalence of fraud cases misusing our brand name, a comprehensive fraud-proofing strategy has been implemented to ensure our integrity. These include proactive steps, such as the Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) initiative wherein every promoter of our products must verify their identity in our system with a government issued ID. We also publish warnings and notices on our corporate website and blog to enhance security and disseminate crucial information. In addition to these, we have launched a dedicated Complaint Mechanism (via email and WhatsApp) that provides avenues for our customers and promoters to engage with us on matters that affect their rights.”
Fall added that these collective efforts underscore the company’s dedication to creating a secure business environment for her customers and at the same time, collaborate with the authorities in holding fraudsters accountable.
Earlier, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured stakeholders that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment that promotes fair competition, protects consumer rights, and supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The governor said mutual understanding between consumers and producers underscored the symbiotic and interdependent relationship that existed between the two entities within any economy.
He, therefore, urged consumers and producers to foster an enduring partnership, rather than relationships that could impede sustainable growth and development in the economic value chain.
According to him, the call is necessary because it reflects a broader acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of economic actors and the need for harmonious interactions to address challenges, innovate, and adapt to changing market dynamics.
“Consumers and producers are not adversaries but rather partners in a complex economic ecosystem.
“While consumers rely on producers to supply goods and services, producers, in turn, depend on consumer demand to drive their businesses forward,” he said.
In his welcome address, Mr Afolabi Solebo, General Manager LASCOPA, said that developers and companies must prioritize ethical considerations in ensuring that AI benefits the society as a whole.
Solebo noted that responsible AI involved transparency and accountability,
According to him, consumers deserve to know how their data is being used and have the right to understand the decisions made by AI systems.
