The Editor of the popular Brand & Marketing page of the Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, Mr. Akin Adewakun, has been announced winner of the maiden Sola Salako-Ajulo Award for Consumer Reporting Journalism, at the Consumers Value Award (CVA), held recently in Lagos.

 

The award, which formed one of the highlights of the evening, was endowed by the fiery consumer rights advocate and founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), with the aim of recognising journalism that contributes to consumer awareness and strengthens the voice of consumers in the marketplace.

 

In her congratulatory message to the winner, Mrs. Ajulo commended the winner for his consistency and dedication to the consumer cause, over many decades.

 

“I was so glad you won. Your consistency and dedication to the consumer cause over many decades is commendable,” she stated.

 

Presenting the award on behalf of Mrs. Ajulo, the Convener of CVA, Akonte Ekine, also commended the awardee on his efforts at giving the  nation’s consuming public a voice.

 

He described CVA as founded on the belief that consumers and citizens deserve a stronger voice in the marketplace and in the delivery of public services.

 

“We believe that consumers and citizens are the paymasters. And paymasters deserve a better experience,” Ekine said.

 

According to him, the five-year journey of the CVA has demonstrated the importance of creating platforms through which consumers can speak, engage and recognise organisations that earn their confidence.

 

According to him, the platform, since  inception, had garnered over 38,000 votes and engagements, while more than 500 brands had been nominated over the five-year period.

 

The 2026 edition, the fifth in the series, placed consumer and citizen voice at the centre of conversations about value, trust and accountability, with 40 brands and government institutions, recognised at the event.

 

Tagged: “Beyond Satisfaction: Redefining Consumer Value in a New Economy,” the awards, organised by BrandXchange, a consumer-focused brand and reputation platform, has evolved into a platform for consumers and citizens to recognise organisations they believe deliver value.

 

A major highlight of this year’s edition was the Citizens Scorecard, through which participating citizens assessed selected government institutions on their service delivery, responsiveness and public impact.

 

The Scorecard recorded the following results: Lagos State Printing Corporation: 81.1%, Excellence in Service Delivery; Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA): 46.9%, Outstanding Public Service Impact Award; National Communications Commission (NCC): 54.8%, Outstanding MDA/Public Service Impact Award; Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC): 38.2%, Citizen-Centric MDA of the Year and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emerging  Most Trusted Public Institution.

The results provide another dimension to the CVA platform, moving beyond the recognition of commercial brands to creating space for citizens to express their perceptions of public institutions.

 

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in his goodwill address, noted that customer satisfaction alone is no longer sufficient, stressing the importance of trust, empathy, accessibility and sustainability in defining value.

 

Sanwoolu’s  address was delivered  by Fola Solebo, General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), who  also stood in for the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

 

The Governor described the consumer as a buyer and curator whose choices are increasingly shaped by access to information, social media and economic realities. He also challenged both government and the private sector to continue to love, respect and serve the consumer.