From Ebohon Joan
The fight against counterfeit and adulterated products in Edo State has gained fresh momentum following a strategic engagement between the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee and Guinness Nigeria PLC aimed at strengthening market surveillance and protecting consumers from potentially dangerous goods.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, brought together officials of the state committee, led by its chairman, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, and representatives of the beverage company to explore practical ways of tackling the circulation of fake products across the state.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen enforcement efforts, improve the technical capacity of consumer protection officers and encourage closer cooperation between government and industry in the campaign against counterfeit goods.
At the meeting, the committee proposed a partnership built around three major priorities: adopting internationally recognised anti-counterfeiting practices, providing specialised training for enforcement personnel and supporting coordinated field operations.
Under the proposed arrangement, consumer protection officers would receive technical guidance to improve their ability to identify counterfeit and adulterated beverages. The initiative is also intended to strengthen the committee’s capacity to detect products that could pose risks to public health.
The parties further discussed mutual support for enforcement activities designed to identify, seize and remove fake products from circulation in markets across Edo State.
The initiative aligns with the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo, which the committee referenced in its commitment to protecting consumers and promoting public health.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Chairman Iyamu Osaro Culture said the engagement would complement Guinness Nigeria PLC’s existing efforts to tackle counterfeiting while encouraging stronger cooperation between public authorities and private-sector organisations.
The move also builds on discussions held during the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee Town Hall Meeting on September 29, 2026, where stakeholders called for broader collaboration to rid the state’s markets of dangerous counterfeit products.
The meeting identified government agencies, media organisations, local businesses, market women leaders and the United Beverages Association in Benin City among the stakeholders whose participation would be important to the campaign.
The committee also pointed to Guinness Nigeria’s involvement in World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2026, when the company partnered with the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria to promote stronger alliances among brand owners, law enforcement agencies, technology providers and government institutions.
According to Iyamu Osaro Culture, tackling illicit products could deliver benefits beyond consumer safety by supporting legitimate businesses and creating opportunities for increased investment in corporate social responsibility programmes within the state.
“By protecting consumers from illicit products, this partnership will not only safeguard public health but also boost Guinness Nigeria PLC’s revenue base, enabling increased Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments within Edo State,” he said.
Representing the company at the meeting, Asset Care Manager Temitayo Openiyi, who received the delegation on behalf of the Plant Manager, welcomed the initiative and expressed the company’s willingness to work with the committee.
Openiyi described the engagement as the first time a government agency had aligned so directly with the company’s core mission and vision.
He also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for establishing an active consumer protection body focused on public health and the defence of consumer rights.
Following consultations with his executive management team, Openiyi confirmed Guinness Nigeria PLC’s commitment to the proposed partnership and called for immediate technical meetings to determine how the agreement would be implemented.
The proposed follow-up sessions are expected to provide an opportunity for both parties to develop practical steps for personnel training, enforcement support and other areas of cooperation identified during the engagement.
The engagement marks a move towards stronger collaboration between the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee and the private sector in addressing counterfeit products.
For consumers, the central objective is to strengthen efforts to identify potentially harmful goods before they reach the public. For legitimate businesses, more effective action against counterfeiting could help protect brand integrity and fair competition.
With Guinness Nigeria PLC expressing its commitment to the initiative, the next phase will centre on technical consultations and the development of practical measures to support the joint campaign.
The effectiveness of the partnership will ultimately depend on how the proposed training and enforcement measures are implemented and sustained across Edo State.
