By Chinenye Anuforo
Nigerian journalist who attended the 2024 V-Convention (VCON) in Malaysia returned with a wealth of insights, highlighting the event’s focus on transparency, empowerment, and the potential of direct selling for young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Mr. Biram Fall, QNET’s Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), opened the VCON media webinar organized today by emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency.
He stressed QNET’s focus on high-quality products, ethical business practices, and empowering its network of Independent Representatives (IRs). This emphasis on openness resonated with the journalists, setting the tone for their exploration of QNET and the VCON experience.
Royal Ibeh, a reporter for Leadership Newspaper who attended the VCON 2024 initially approached the event with a critical eye due to past experiences with multi-level marketing companies (MLMs) in Nigeria. However, the event’s scale and the genuine enthusiasm of attendees challenged her initial skepticism.
Interactive product knowledge sessions with experts provided valuable insights informed her positive reporting. Most importantly, Ibeh was impressed by QNET’s commitment to social responsibility, exemplified by the launch of water purification product which she believes would help in eradicating the challenges of unclean water in Nigeria.
N’ankwat Dariem of Voice of Nigeria who was at the VCON 2023 noted the significant presence of young entrepreneurs at event seeking to improve their lives through direct selling. This resonated with Prince Osuagwu of Vanguard Newspaper, VCON attendee 2022 who further highlighted the strong sense of community and support fostered by the event. He viewed VCON as a platform for knowledge exchange, particularly valuable for replicating success stories in the Nigerian market with its large youth population. Osuagwu was also impressed by QNET’s dedication to innovation, showcasing products that address real-world challenges in Nigeria, such as vertical farming technology and hygiene devices.
Mr. Hakeem Ajisafe, CEO of Transblue Limited, QNET’s Nigerian partner, emphasized the critical role of VCON in bringing together key stakeholders within the direct selling industry. Transblue plays a vital role in facilitating QNET’s e-commerce platform and ensuring adherence to local regulations. Mr. Ajisafe’s address underscored the significance of strong partnerships in building a successful and sustainable direct selling model in Nigeria.
The webinar openly addressed the challenge of individuals who exploit QNET’s brand for illegitimate activities. QNET representatives, Fall and Ajisafe assured participants that the company actively identifies and addresses these cases through its dedicated Network Integrity Department and legal measures.
“This commitment to combating fraudulent practices reinforces QNET’s dedication to ethical business conduct”, they stated.
VCON offered a platform for learning, collaboration, and fostering a more empowering future for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking financial independence. The experiences shared by Nigerian journalists paint a nuanced picture of VCON and the direct selling industry. While acknowledging past challenges, the event served as a catalyst for positive change. The emphasis on education, ethical practices, social responsibility, and community building paves the way for a brighter future for direct selling in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
The discussion also explored potential avenues for industry growth. Panelists identified an opportunity for collaboration between QNET and the Nigerian fashion industry. Expanding product offerings to include fashionable items could further appeal to a wider range of consumers and entrepreneurs in the Nigerian market.