IMO CPC CELEBRATES WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY IN GRAND STYLE.
On Tuesday March 15th 2022, the premises of Consumer Protection Council, Imo State was agog with pomp and pageantry as the agency joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day with the theme “Fair Digital Finance”. Indeed, it was a phenomenal celebration that creates awareness on the consumer’s right of fair digital finance at all time.
It will be recalled that since the appointment of Hon. Mrs Obioma Okafor, the DG, Imo State Consumer Protection Council by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma in 2020, it has become a tradition to celebrate the annual event in a manner that is adjudged splendid.
In her welcoming address, the Director General, CPC Imo State, Hon. Mrs. Obioma Okafor said the Celebration is one of the veritable programmes inspired by John F Kennedy in 1962, later adopted by the Consumer International to promote Consumer’s rights as well as protect the Consumers from abuse or exploitation. She assured Imolites, the government’s commitment to entrench fair digital financial services in the state. Mrs Okafor also explained that celebrating WCRD in a grand style is another milestone in the Agency’s bid to step up awareness against unfair digital financial services, adding that the event was to intensify and expand the scope of formal communication strategies to reach out to the most vulnerable consumers in our society.
According to the DG, the Consumer International has done noble in selecting fair digital finance as the topic for this year’s event because the world has completely embraced cashless economy with its inherent dangers that exposes consumers to frauds, scams and exploitations. She pointed out that Nigeria has a preponderant share of this global problem of unfair digital finance.
The DG reassured that CPC under her watch will not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to rid the state of the menace of counterfeit, unwholesome and harmful products.
A wonderful lecture on the theme was delivered by Mr Ketandu Ezeji of Central Bank of Nigeria, Imo State branch. His lecture was concise, educative, informative and interesting, aimed at arousing the awareness and consciousness of the general public about the various infractions that impact negatively on the consumer’s right to enjoy fair digital finance. Mr Ketandu also explained in details the meaning, risks and ways in which government at all levels can sustain digital financial services.
The finals of CPC/IMSUBEB Primary Schools debate competition under the Shared Prosperity Catch Them Young Initiative was another activity that added impressive glamour to the occasion. The children really showcased their talents as they spoke on the topic “Fake products, who is to be blamed, the producer or the Consumer”.
In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Imo State, Comrade Simeon Ebegbulam, commended the DG and her team for their efforts to ensure effective Consumer Protection in the state. He described the theme of this year’s WCRD as appropriate and timely, assuring that his ministry will continue to support and assist CPC to achieve her statutory mandates.
In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Rt. Hon. C.C Osuala and the Commissioner for Special Duties Imo State, Chief Dr. Okey Anukwuem pledge to collaborate with CPC in ensuring full realization of her mandates.
Other senior apostles of Shared Prosperity family, present in the occasion includes, Chief Sir Bright Nwaelue, Hon Chidiebere Chigbuo, the Board Secretary of IMSUBEB, who represented the Chairman, Her Excellency Lady Dr Ada Okwuonu and the representatives of Commissioner of police, Commissioner for education, SA to the Governor on Health, Dr. Lina Okereke, Chief Sir Ifeanyi Okafor, Chairman CEO Lasbergas west Africa, Hon. Enerst Okechukwu Udeze (Okey is OK) who donated a brand new computer set which was given to the school that won the first position in the debate competition and many others too numerous to mention.
