Guinness, partners seek action against fake goods

Guinness Nigeria Plc, in collaboration with the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria, convened industry leaders, regulators, enforcement agencies and brand owners at its Lagos headquarters on World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2026 for a high-level engagement themed “Combating Counterfeiting in an AI-Driven and Digitally Connected World.”

A statement from the firm on Tuesday stated that the event provided a platform for stakeholders to assess the growing threat of counterfeiting and explore solutions aimed at protecting consumers, safeguarding brands and strengthening enforcement in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Managing Director and CEO, Girish Sharma, Corporate Relations and Legal Director Rotimi Odusola said counterfeiting has become a fast-evolving global challenge driven by digital platforms and emerging technologies.

“Counterfeiting is no longer confined to physical markets or isolated supply chains. It has grown into a highly sophisticated, transnational enterprise, leveraging e-commerce platforms, social networks, and advanced AI tools to produce, promote, and distribute counterfeit goods with alarming efficiency,” he said.

He noted that while technology has enabled counterfeiters to scale operations, it also provides tools for detection, intelligence sharing and enforcement.

The event was chaired by Sola Dosumu, Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria, who also delivered the keynote address. A panel session followed, focusing on the increasing sophistication of technology-enabled counterfeit networks and the need for stronger public-private collaboration.

Among the panelists, the Director of Lagos Operations at the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Tessy Ojomo, stressed the importance of stronger enforcement and regulatory compliance in addressing counterfeit trade. She said stricter penalties and SON certification have become key deterrents and warned e-commerce operators to ensure all listed products comply with SON certification requirements to avoid legal consequences.

Director of Investigations and Enforcement at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr Martins Iluyomade, said ongoing enforcement efforts would soon produce stronger outcomes against counterfeit enablers. He urged brand owners to take ownership of their brands and remain firm in confronting counterfeit operators.

Other presentations addressed emerging counterfeit risks from the perspective of brand owners, challenges in investigation and prosecution, and evolving legal frameworks required for effective enforcement. Participants agreed that tackling counterfeiting requires coordinated action involving government agencies, enforcement bodies, technology providers, brand owners, digital platforms and consumers.

Reaffirming Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to anti-counterfeiting efforts, Sharma called for sustained cross-sector collaboration.

“Technology alone is not the solution. Combating counterfeiting in this new era requires collective commitment. It calls for stronger partnerships between brand owners, governments, enforcement agencies, and technology providers. Together, we can harness the power of AI and digital connectivity not just to keep pace with counterfeiters, but to stay decisively ahead of them,” he said.

The engagement was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria, as well as staff and leadership of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to deepen collaboration, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote authenticity in an increasingly connected marketplace.