FCCPC engages youths on consumer protection initiatives

By Ginika Okoye

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has began engagement with students of tertiary institutions to sensitise them on their consumer rights and responsibilities.

Dr Adamu Abdullahi, the acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, said in Abuja on Monday, that the engagement was to equip youths with the knowledge to make consumer protection easier.

Abdullahi said the move was to create a generation of informed and proactive consumers to promote fairness and accountability in the market place.

He said the Commission had recognised the potentials of youths as agents of change in the market place.

”We believe that youths are the ones who go to the market, use social media, know what the market is all about and they can guide us on the way we do our work.

”We will also guide them on our Acts to know what their rights are.

”Advocacy is what is always needed in a Commission like ours so we want them to know that we exist to protect their rights,” he said.

The acting executive vice chairman said the Commission would review secondary schools’ curriculum to upgrade consumer education and sensitise students on their rights and responsibilities.

Abdullahi said that a committee was working on the review to come up with up-to-date and standard curriculum to sensitise children at a younger age.

”What we are trying to do is to review the curriculum so that children from that tender age will get to know what the FCCPC does.

”We want them to know what their rights are and to educate them on their responsibilities, demand and insist on your rights, ”he said.

Some of the youths who spoke through webinar, emphasised the role of the youths to support the Commission to ensure effective consumer protection.

Mr Ibrahim Sanni, a corp member, said the population of the country was youths dominated.

Sanni said that if youths were adequately sensitised and they know their rights, service providers would be careful in treating consumers.

Mr Bashiru Ibrahim, a student, said that there was need for consumer protection courses to be included in school curriculum to better educate youths.

Also, Ijeoma Nnabuike, appealed to the Commission to extend their advocacy to primary schools to enable pupils know their rights at a younger age. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi