Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, Anambra-based industrialist, has called on relevant authorities in the country to intensify efforts in waging war against fake products and adulteration of products in Nigeria.
He made the call in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area Anambra on Sunday during 10th Customers’ Forum organised by Sokka International.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum, entitled “Quality Assurance sin qua non to Sustainable Economic Growth and Nation Building”, was geared toward charting the way forward in checking adulteration of products.
Ezeemo, the Chief Executive Officer of Sokka International, an indigenous company founded in 2002, said that the agencies in charge of regulation and monitoring of fake product should step up actions on defaulters.
He said that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and other regulating agencies, not only Nigeria but also other African countries, should assist by intensifying their operations.
The chief executive officer urged extensive public enlightenment campaign to educate the public on resultant effect and cost of patronising fake products.
He said the company was founded based on the yearnings of African markets for superior, quality and genuine products in forest, gardening and general hardware.
Ezeemo, however, expressed concern that Sokka international was being threatened by activities of fake operators.
He said that Sokka International which started with the Ultimate vision and mission of satisfying African Forest market demands was being challenged, seriously, by adulteration of its products
According to him, Sokka which has impacted hugely on the society and general economy of Africa is now begging to be saved from extinction from fake products.
“This impact goes as far as saving lives through creation of jobs and giving markets to traders who deal on our products.” he said
Ezeemo said that activities of the fraudulent business men, who flooded African market with low quality, fake and look alike of its products required urgent attention.
He said that the company annually conducted the forum to educate the dealers, users and the general public on how to identify its goods with a view to saying NO to counterfeit products.
Ezeemo, who noted that the war against counterfeit of the products of the company had not yielded many results, urged the government to save the company.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to create awareness on our customers, on counterfeit products, to show them how to know the product but it is not very effective as more strident measures are needed.”
Ekene Ifebundu, one of the distributors with the company, said that the forum was apt, adding that the level at which its products were being faked was alarming,adding that the development was affecting the volume of the sales.
He said that most of their customers complained a lot that the products no longer served their aim, adding that these customers and always divert to other brands, thereby making the distributors to lose customers.
Ifebundu also called on government to join hands with the company to fight the fake products in the markets, so that it would not be hard for the traders to detect the products they were dealing deal in.
Mrs Blessing Emeka, a Manager with the company, said that company had recorded consistent growth rate in its turnover, over the years and had increased its operational outlets in over 5 African countries .
She said that the huge testimonies confirmed their commitment to carrying and rending genuine products over the years but prayed for quick intervention of government in the wage against fake products.
