Brands/Products
Nigeria’s Standards Agency to Clamp Down on Counterfeiters
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued a stern warning to those who clone popular brands, denying original manufacturers the opportunity to reap the fruits of their labour.
The Director-General of the agency, Mr Farouk Salim, explained that the organisation will discourage the registration of any product that has a similar business name with an existing brand or those hidden under the names of successful brands to short-change unsuspecting consumers.
“The issue of cloning brands cannot be handled alone by SON, but going forward, we are going to audit the products we register and certify.
“Anytime a new product comes and looks similar to another registered product that is already popular in the market, we will try to discourage the registration of that product with such a name, so that other product would be identified properly.
“This will increase traceability of products not yet in circulation,” he said when the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association visited him in Lagos on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Director-General has announced plans to increase its level of engagement with stakeholders in the country, including Alaba International Market, noting that the move would help to protect the interest of the business community while also safeguarding lives and property.
He said the standards body would work with stakeholders to sensitise the business community on the need to ensure safety and standards, warning that unscrupulous individuals would be prosecuted.
“We are here to work with them and to make their job easy while also to protect their interest because they are Nigerians employing people and they are doing what needs to be done.
“We are looking forward to cooperating with them to ensure that every other individual in their association not doing the right thing is encouraged to doing the right thing in the future,” the SON boss said.
He continued, “We are inviting stakeholders and the plan is to work together with stakeholders to sensitize and train them on the safety of life and property.
“As for those still breaking the laws, we will enforce our law either by a court or through appropriate regulatory.”
According to him, SON would reach out to the community through sensitization programmes to highlight the negative impacts of substandard goods on the business community.
“They have promised to work with us and those people who are not doing the right thing would be fished out. The task is for us to continue cooperation, continue openness, and to be fair with each other. We want you to be our eyes on the market. Help us make our work easy because we are out here to make you competitive. Let us work together to make this happen as we would be reaching to everyone in the market,” he added.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN), Mr Fabian Ezeorjika, said there is an already existing partnership with SON to achieve a substandard-free market.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with SON to fish out the bad eggs in the market, saying that the association had formed a Joint Task Force comprising of SON officials and currently running a “buyer beware campaign” in the market.
To this end, he explained SON has destroyed a lot of products while some of its members are in court and added that the association was going to increase the level of collaboration with SON so as to bring an end to substandard goods.
He called on SON to encourage local production, saying that this is the surest way to create wealth and job opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths.
“We need to create a conducive environment for local production. Importation only creates job opportunities for people we import from. We must create a platform to boost local production,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To boost customer experience and operational resilience, leading technology platform offering on demand services from restaurants, supermarkets and stores, Glovo, has launched its LiveOps Hub in Abuja.
The Abuja LiveOps Hub demonstrates the company’s ongoing investment in innovation, reliability, and human capital development in Nigeria.
It was learned that the new facility integrates advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with human intelligence to ensure seamless and secure service.
With this, it will be able to tackle key challenges within Nigeria’s fast-growing Qcommerce ecosystem, including low digital trust, infrastructure volatility, and the need for 24/7 real-time service.
With a team of over 100 trained professionals, the hub provides live operational support for customers, riders, and vendors that use the Glovo platform nationwide.
“The LiveOps Hub in Abuja reflects our investment in resilience and reliability. We have invested heavily in redundant high-speed satellite links and powerful backup power solutions, including generators and solar systems, to ensure our team operates 24/7 without downtime.
“This means we are always available when customers, riders, or vendors need us most,” the General Manager for Glovo Nigeria, Ms Lamide Akinola, stated.
The hub’s tiered support system is built around specialized “Pods”, such as Refunds, Rider Support, and Vendor Relations, allowing agents to resolve complex cases faster and with greater precision.
Since its establishment in early 2025, the team has maintained an impressive 90 per cent success rate in responding to customer inquiries within 30 seconds, setting a new benchmark for responsiveness and reliability in Nigeria’s on-demand sector.
Beyond speed and technology, the Abuja hub represents Glovo’s belief that great customer support depends on local understanding. In cities where unmapped addresses and complex routes can challenge delivery operations, the locally based LiveOps team plays a key role in helping riders and customers connect seamlessly. Agents use their knowledge of neighbourhoods, landmarks, and delivery patterns to solve navigation-related issues in real time, bridging the gap between technology and on-the-ground realities.
Beyond operations, the Abuja Hub doubles as a LiveOps Academy, dedicated to nurturing and retaining Nigerian talent. Agents receive training beyond customer service, including business analysis, fraud detection, and project management. This investment not only builds long-term skills but also strengthens Nigeria’s growing digital service ecosystem and contributes to a more resilient digital economy.
“Our approach combines people, technology, and local understanding. We are not just solving customer challenges, we are building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy by showing that reliability, innovation, and opportunity can coexist,” Ms Akinola added.
The Abuja LiveOps Hub plays a key role in Glovo’s long-term vision: setting new standards for customer experience, operational excellence, and localized innovation across Africa. Through this investment, Glovo reaffirms its commitment to defining what exceptional service looks like in the fast-evolving Quick-Commerce sector
By Dipo Olowookere
Twelve food content creators have been chosen as the new MAGGI Food Ambassadors, and would be expected to use their platforms to promote the seasons produced by Nestle. The next generation of culinary innovators will drive authentic African food storytelling across digital platforms.
The new ambassadors are Brian Nwana, Sisi Yemmie, Ify’s Kitchen, Geenafoodiesandspice, Dr Jamila Lawal, Anisah Lawal (the.chefnisah), Mariam Buhari (Fabulous_nosh_and_recipes), Egbe Chukwualuka (cookwith_aluks), Okeke Oluebube (cookwith_mimii), Samira Abdullahi (Samrahs_cuisine), Zainab Saad Ahmed (Hanan_malab), and Bello Yasmine Mansur (Yasmieen_ymb).
These persons were unveiled by the leading culinary brand at the second edition of the MAGGI Creators Conference, themed The MAGGIVerse 2.0.
Held from November 1–2, 2025, in Lagos, the two-day event brought together hundreds of digital storytellers, food influencers, and creative entrepreneurs from across West and Central Africa. The conference served as a vibrant hub for learning, collaboration, and inspiration—exploring how creativity, storytelling, and innovation continue to shape Africa’s digital and culinary landscape.
In her welcome address, the Category Marketing Manager for Culinary (MAGGI) at Nestlé Nigeria, Ms Funmi Osineye, emphasized the brand’s long-term commitment to empowering African creators:
“The creator economy in Africa is redefining how stories are told, livelihoods are built, and communities are shaped. Through the MAGGIVerse, we’re helping creators turn passion into purpose while building a connected ecosystem that celebrates culture, creativity, and shared growth,” she stated.
Building on the success of its debut edition in 2024, this year’s conference featured panels, workshops, and masterclasses on storytelling, brand building, and digital monetization. Highlights included a TikTok Masterclass on content algorithms and authentic influence, as well as engaging discussions on “The Palette of Digital Content,” featuring Sisi Yemmie, Noble Igwe, Dr. Jamila Lawal, and Gina Ehikodi-Ojo.
In her keynote address, the former Nestle Director for Marketing Services Manager at Nestlé Nigeria and chief executive of Entod Marketing Limited, Mrs Iquo Ukoh, said, “We are witnessing a cultural evolution. Preserving traditional dishes and presenting them authentically online will be key to maintaining Africa’s culinary heritage.”
Brian Nwana, Guinness World Record holder and digital food creator, delivered an inspiring session on The Future Plate: Marrying Culinary Arts with Digital Frontiers, encouraging creators to stay consistent, leverage data, and seize seasonal opportunities to grow visibility and influence.Detty December is coming, an opportunity to trend food content because tourists will surely need to know where and what to eat.
Ghanaian lifestyle creator Kojo Junior described the Maggi Creators Conference as a powerful platform for cross-border collaboration and creativity in Africa’s digital space.It’s a great bridge for creators across countries.
Adding a platform perspective, the Publisher Partnerships Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, Ms Vivian Chuene, said, “The world is watching African creators. Global audiences are curious about African content, and now is the time to position creators to take advantage of that demand.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To enable Nigerians enjoy online shopping, global e-commerce giant, Amazon, has launched its Bazaar App.
The mobile application has hundreds of thousands of affordable products across fashion, home and lifestyle categories, giving users convenient shopping experience.
The Amazon Bazaar app is designed with interactive shopping features, allowing users to enjoy lucky draws, exclusive discounts, and promotional offers.
New customers receive 50 per cent off their first order, while all users benefit from continuous deals and reward programs that make shopping more exciting and budget-friendly.
In addition, Nigerian shoppers can enjoy a blend of affordability and convenience, with most products priced under N15,000 and free delivery available for orders above N30,000.
Customers can browse through thousands of categories, read verified reviews, and make secure payments using internationally accepted cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
According to Amazon, the app maintains the same trusted experience as the global Amazon platform but is tailored to reflect local cultures, shopping preferences, and affordability needs.
In line with Amazon’s global standards, the Bazaar app ensures product authenticity, safe transactions, and timely delivery, typically within two weeks. Customers can also request free returns within 15 days and access 24/7 multilingual customer support.
The app supports six major languages, including English and French, and enables Nigerians to shop confidently in their local currency, the Naira.
By launching the Amazon Bazaar app in Nigeria, the company reinforces its commitment to expanding digital access and enhancing e-commerce experiences across Africa. The move is expected to further stimulate the local online retail market, offering consumers more choices and better value for money.
With this launch, Nigeria joins a growing list of countries experiencing Amazon’s Haul and Bazaar shopping model, which has gained traction in markets such as the U.S., UK, France, Japan, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
The platform is now expanding to 14 new destinations, including Hong Kong, Philippines, Qatar, Argentina, and now Nigeria.
The Amazon Bazaar app is now available for download on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Nigerians can start exploring thousands of affordable products today, ushering in a new era of convenient and trusted online shopping.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria