Nigerian Institute of Production Management (NIPM) recently partnered with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to provide training for officers from the Commission’s Quality Assurance and Development (QAD) Department. This training organized by the Institute’s School of Quality, Health, Safety, Security And Environmental Management (SQHSSEM) from 8th to 12th September, 2025 focused on food safety, hygiene, and sanitation practices, as well as Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) protocols.

Significance of the Training

Given the FCCPC’s role as a regulatory and compliance enforcement agency, this training is crucial in ensuring that officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively regulate market competition, protect consumer rights, and enforce compliance across various sectors. The FCCPC’s mandate, as established by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, includes investigating complaints, issuing guidelines, and taking disciplinary measures against violating companies.

FCCPC’s Operational Framework

The FCCPC operates as an agency under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), further emphasizing the importance of this training in aligning with the ministry’s objectives.

NIPM’s Collaboration with Government Agencies

According to Dr. Olaniyi Opanuga, NIPM President, the Institute has a history of collaborating with Federal Government organisations. Some notable examples include:

• National Conferences and Workshops featuring delegates from the Presidency, Federal and State Ministries of Industry and several government agencies.
• Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) under the Federal Ministry of Aviation
• Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc (NSPMC) under the supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Dr. Opanuga’s expertise in production and operations management and the associated, supply chain, logistics, quality, quality, safety, environment and sustainability management is well-established, having served as a consultant to many public sector organisations including FAAN and NSPM in the 2000s. He led the NIPM and Optimum Resources Limited consulting team to implement various technical, engineering, quality management, HSE and general operations management training programs for many public sector organisations.

Additionally, Dr. Opanuga facilitated a pre-retirement training workshop for various cadres of retiring federal civil servants, including directors, organized by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), The Presidency in 2007.

Dr Olaniyi Opanuga who also holds a master’s in legal studies (MLS) from Lagos State University (LASU) clearly stated how the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) protect the consumer against unfair and deceptive practices in commercial transactions.

By equipping officers with the necessary knowledge and skills, trainees will be able to improve performance on the job.

Dr Opanuga emphasized the need for the FCCPC management to intensify staff training so that it will be better positioned to investigate complaints, issue guidelines, and take disciplinary measures against companies that violate regulations.

Overall, the partnership between NIPM and FCCPC is a step in the right direction towards promoting consumer protection and regulatory compliance in Nigeria. NIPM educates and trains professionals to be effective in their roles, following best practices to ensure the production of quality and safe goods while ensuring regulatory compliance and possessing the virtue of ethical integrity.

The partnership between NIPM and FCCPC is a step in the right direction towards promoting consumer protection and ensuring regulatory compliance in Nigeria.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF PARTICIPANTS 

“Very interactive lecture by lecturers as well as being well taken care of”

 Hamisu Aminu Mabudi

 “The training was educative and successful”

 Idris Lateefat Ayoola

 “The training was successful, educative and interactive”

 Faiza Wakili Ahmed