Journalists tasked on balanced reporting on wellness products for consumer protection

Journalists have been urged to adopt balanced, factual and evidence-based reporting on wellness products and direct-selling businesses to promote consumer protection and help the public make informed decisions.

The Head of Communication for ONET International Group and Global Head of Public Relations for QNET, Marlene Kaur, made the call during the QNET 2026 V-CON media experience-sharing meeting, where journalists discussed their experiences at the company’s global convention in Penang, Malaysia.

Kaur said the media had an important responsibility to help the public distinguish legitimate business opportunities from misleading claims, stressing that accurate reporting was essential to building consumer confidence and promoting accountability.

She said the media’s role was particularly important at a time when many young people were seeking legitimate ways to earn an income, establish businesses and strengthen their financial security.

According to her, QNET’s approach to business must be guided by consumer protection, accountability and responsible business practices as the company expands its operations.

“The media has an important role to play in helping the public distinguish credible opportunities from misleading claims through accurate, balanced and responsible reporting,” she said.

Kaur explained that the company’s 2026 V-Convention, which attracted more than 8,000 entrepreneurs and officials from over 30 countries, provided an opportunity to showcase its products, business operations and priorities.

She said the convention’s theme, Reform, Transform, Perform, reflected the company’s focus on responsible business practices, digital innovation and translating business growth into tangible outcomes.

According to her, the reform component emphasises compliance, responsible business conduct and consumer education, while transformation highlights the role of technology in product development, e-commerce and business operations.

She added that performance focuses on delivering quality products, creating economic opportunities and strengthening community engagement.

Kaur said innovation in product development must be accompanied by transparency and responsible communication, noting that consumer confidence depended on the quality of products and the accuracy of information provided to customers.

She identified the company’s wellness products, skincare range and luxury timepieces as part of its product portfolio, adding that QNET was also investing in digital infrastructure to improve e-commerce and supply-chain visibility.

On consumer protection, she said the company maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical practices and the misrepresentation of its products or business opportunities.

She added that QNET was investing in compliance frameworks, distributor education and consumer protection measures to ensure that its independent distributors represented the company responsibly.

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Kaur also called for sustained engagement between the company and the media, noting that timely access to accurate information would help address public concerns, correct misinformation and improve understanding of its operations.

Similarly, the Regional General Manager for QNET in Central and West Africa, Cherif Bassirou Abdoulaye Sarr, said consumer protection, product quality, ethical entrepreneurship and media engagement remained central to the company’s operations.

Sarr warned that fraudulent schemes and unauthorised operators could exploit the aspirations of people seeking better livelihoods by misusing established international brands to deceive the public.

He said protecting consumers required collaboration among businesses, regulators, relevant authorities and other stakeholders across Nigeria and the wider West African region.

According to him, QNET’s Say No campaign seeks to educate communities on how to distinguish legitimate direct-selling activities from deceptive schemes.

He also cited the company’s FinGreen financial literacy programme in Nigeria, which he said had helped young people and women recognise fraudulent schemes and make informed financial decisions.

Sarr added that the company was strengthening its know-your-customer processes to identify suspicious activities and address the unauthorised use of its brand.

On wellness products, he said consumers needed clear information about product features, intended uses and realistic expectations to enable them to make informed purchasing decisions.

He noted that the company’s annual product exhibition provided an opportunity for consumers, independent distributors, regulators and journalists to interact with its team, ask questions and obtain information about its products.

Sarr further said direct selling could provide opportunities for entrepreneurship, self-employment and skills development when practised responsibly and transparently.

He said the company’s Qlearn digital learning academy offered independent distributors training in digital marketing, professional ethics and business management.

However, he stressed that sustainable entrepreneurship required continuous learning, responsible decision-making and a clear understanding of the business model.

On the media’s role, Sarr said independent scrutiny and constructive criticism were necessary to promote accountability, adding that the company remained open to questions and concerns about its operations.

“Balanced factual reporting helps consumers make informed decisions and enables meaningful conversation about the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges associated with our industry,” he said.

He added that QNET’s priorities in Nigeria included transparency, consumer protection, financial literacy, youth empowerment and responsible economic participation.

Meanwhile, journalists who attended previous editions of the company’s convention shared their experiences, highlighting product demonstrations, technology and the scale of the international gathering.

Francis Sule, one of the journalists who attended the 2026 convention, said his experience provided an opportunity to observe the company’s operations and product offerings firsthand.

Sule said he approached the event with the scepticism he considered necessary for journalists, particularly given the questions and concerns he had previously encountered about the company.

He, however, said the scale of the convention, which brought together more than 8,000 participants from over 30 countries, and the level of organisation were among the things that stood out to him.

He also cited his visits to the company’s offices, exhibition booths and carnival as opportunities to learn about its products and operations.

Royal Ibeh, another journalist who attended the company’s 2024 convention in Malaysia, said the integration of science and technology into product development was one of her major takeaways.

Ibeh highlighted products in the company’s water-purification and wellness ranges, saying their intended applications raised important questions about how technological innovations could respond to everyday needs, including access to clean water.

She also pointed to the importance of research and testing in product development.

The discussions underscored the need for continued engagement between the media, businesses and consumers to promote transparency and responsible reporting on wellness products and direct-selling activities.