To assist consumers in Nigeria solve challenges faced in the marketplace, the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) has developed an AI-powered App called CAFON Consumer Companion (3C).

The App, the first AI consumer guidance tool in Nigeria, was unveiled by leading consumer rights advocate and founder of CAFON, Mrs. Sola Salako-Ajulo at the 2026 World Consumer Rights Day Forum held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Rite Foods Limited Facility, Ososa, Ogun State with the theme, Safe Product, Confident Consumer. Convened by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), the event was hosted by Rite Foods Limited.

According to Salako-Ajulo, who presented the keynote address titled Using AI to Improve Consumer Confidence, 3C is an AI-powered consumer guidance tool designed to help Nigerians understand their consumer rights, know what steps to take in disputes, draft complaints to businesses, identify possible legal violations, and escalate issues when necessary.

“3C is another proof of CAFON’s commitment to providing resources that help consumers become better informed, more confident, and more protected in the marketplace. 3C is designed to help consumers understand their rights and provide guidance on what steps to take when facing consumer issues in the marketplace. When you know how to use your rights; you become a Confident Consumer.”

The consumer rights advocacy champion pointed out that many Nigerian consumers feel confused about their rights, helpless when businesses ignore complaints, intimidated by large companies and unsure where to seek help. These, according to her results in low consumer confidence in the marketplace.

Noting that consumer confidence is the oxygen of the markets, she averred that when consumers trust the system, they spend more, participate in the economy, embrace innovation and businesses grow. Conversely, when trust is low, markets weaken.

On what the problem is, the speaker was emphatic that the problem is not in the law because Nigeria has strong consumer protection laws like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018. The real problem, she said, is consumers don't know their rights. And even when they do, they don't know how to enforce them.

She appealed to regulators, civil societies and the media to work together to build a marketplace where consumers are informed, businesses are accountable and trust in the system grows.

“Let us work together to educate Nigerian consumers to build confident consumers, promote responsible business practices, and use technology to strengthen consumer protection. An informed consumer is the strongest regulator in the market,” she said.

Speaking on the theme for the event, the executive vice chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator, South West, Dr. Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, said confidence in the marketplace begins with trust, and that trust is built when consumers are assured that the products they purchase meet established standards of safety and quality.

She explained that the mandate of the FCCPC, established under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, includes protecting consumers from exploitative and unsafe practices while promoting fair competition and responsible conduct by businesses with goods and services meeting acceptable safety and quality standards.

According to her, effective consumer protection depends on cooperation among regulators, manufacturers, distributors, the media, and consumers themselves.

Dr. Otti acknowledged the important role that the media play in linking producers, regulators, and the public. “Through accurate reporting and careful analysis, the media helps ensure that consumers remain informed about their rights and that businesses remain accountable for the standards they maintain,” she said.

She has words for stakeholders “To Nigerian consumers, I encourage continued vigilance. Pay attention to product labels, safety instructions, and other important information before making purchasing decisions. A well-informed consumer is better positioned to make choices that protect both health and value.

“To businesses, the message remains clear. Compliance with safety standards, transparency in product information, and responsible conduct in the marketplace are essential for building durable consumer trust.”

She called on regulators, manufacturers, journalists, and consumers to work together to strengthen a marketplace where product safety is assured and public confidence continues to grow

In her presentation, the director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, said consumer rights are not optional ideals. They are enforceable obligations and include the right to safety, right to information, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redress. These principles, she explained, form the backbone of regulatory governance in Nigeria.

The NAFDAC boss who was represented by Dr. Tinuola Akinnubi, spoke on NAFDAC’s regulatory interventions as well as the role of regulation and the media in consumer protection.

She opined that to go forward, there should be strengthening of the consumer protection ecosystem. “Going forward, the focus must be on strengthening surveillance and post-market monitoring, enhancing stakeholder engagement, leveraging technology for traceability and promoting consumer awareness campaigns,” she stated.

She requested that emphasis should also be placed on encouraging responsible corporate conduct while the industry must understand that consumer trust is not built through marketing alone. “It is built through compliance, transparency, and integrity.”

Prof. Adeyeye advised the media to continue to report responsibly and accurately while regulators must remain firm, fair, and proactive

In her call to action, the NAFDAC boss advocated collective action. “Let us move beyond discussion into commitment. Let industry prioritize compliance over profit margins ,safety over shortcuts. Let the media amplify facts over sensationalism. Let regulators remain vigilant and transparent. Let consumers become remain vigilant and informed. Retailers must enforce age and safety restrictions responsibly. Journalists must promote evidence-based reporting, informed and assertive.”

Earlier on, in a brief welcome speech, the chairman of BJAN, Mr. Daniel Obi, appreciated the presence of guests, especially the regulators, and commended the host, Rite Foods Limited. He explained that the 2026 is the 1oth and was held on March 13 because March 15 was a Sunday.

A major highlight was a facility tour where participants at the event witnessed live production of some of the brands from the stable of Rite Foods Limited.