By Martin Ekpeke
Nigerian journalists who have attended QNET’s V-Convention 2026 in Penang, Malaysia, have shared their experiences of the international gathering, highlighting its focus on entrepreneurship, business development, personal growth and empowerment.
The journalists shared their perspectives during a webinar hosted by QNET yesterday, under the theme, “Beyond the Headlines: Insights from VCON 2026.”
The virtual session provided a platform for the media professionals to reflect on their experiences at the convention, discuss issues that shaped their coverage and engage with QNET executives on transparency, ethical business practices and responsible reporting in the direct-selling industry.
The V-Convention brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders and participants from different countries for activities and discussions centred on business development, innovation and personal empowerment.
Featuring Royal Ibeh, Editor at BusinessDay; Prince Osuagwu, Senior Editor at Vanguard; and Friday Olokor, Senior Correspondent at Arise News, the webinar provided opportunity for these journalists to share their observations from the Malaysian event. The session was moderated by Ifeoma Ngesina.
In her opening remarks, Mariene Kaur, QNET’s Head of Communications and Global Public Relations, stressed the importance of providing journalists with opportunities to share their firsthand observations and engage directly with the company beyond conventional media coverage.
Olokor said his participation in the convention was his first direct exposure to QNET, adding that the experience gave him a different perspective on the company and the direct-selling industry.
“Until my journey to Malaysia for the V-Convention, QNET was not known to me, but I was overwhelmed by what I saw during the event,” he said.
He described the convention as a large-scale gathering focused on empowerment, job creation and wealth creation, noting that its organisation and professionalism challenged some of his previous perceptions of the company.
According to him, direct engagement with QNET and witnessing the event firsthand provided an opportunity to assess the business beyond impressions shaped by negative media reports and fraudulent activities associated with some operators in the industry.
For Ibeh, the wellness and lifestyle products showcased at the convention stood out, particularly their relevance to everyday needs, pointing to the importance of product quality, international certifications and corporate governance in building consumer confidence.
She also highlighted what she described as QNET’s efforts to promote ethical business practices and educate the public and its independent distributors about its business model.
Osuagwu, who admitted approaching the company with reservations, said the trip to Malaysia changed his perception after he witnessed the scale of the gathering and had direct exposure to the company’s operations.
“My perception changed when I saw the scale of the event and the number of partners who gathered for it. I told myself, QNET is doing something right by building trust and credibility through providing direct, unfiltered access to its operations by journalists. It was a massive event,” he said.
He added that the opportunity to observe the convention firsthand helped him form a more informed view of the company, rather than relying solely on promotional claims or preconceived opinions.
The webinar was designed to amplify the voices of journalists who attended the convention, encourage informed reporting and provide further insight into QNET’s operations, business model and engagement with its independent distributors.
It also sought to strengthen dialogue between the company and the Nigerian media on the responsibilities of businesses and journalists in communicating issues surrounding direct selling.
Delivering the closing remarks, Cheriff Sarr, QNET’s Regional General Manager for Central and West Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustained media engagement and constructive dialogue on transparency, ethical business conduct and responsible reporting.
He said the webinar formed part of QNET’s efforts to maintain engagement with media stakeholders in Nigeria and across Africa, using firsthand experiences and direct conversations to promote a clearer understanding of the company and the direct-selling industry.
The discussions also highlighted the responsibility of journalists to scrutinise business claims, provide context and ensure that public reporting is based on verified information and the experiences of relevant stakeholders.