But on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, during QNET’s exclusive webinar themed “Beyond VCON: Media Insights from VCON 2025”, a group of Nigerian journalists sought to challenge that instinct with first-hand experiences from the company’s V-Convention in Penang, Malaysia.

The webinar, held via Zoom, brought together journalists, editors, and media executives who attended QNET’s flagship convention, a global event that hosted over 10,000 entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators from more than 50 countries. 

The webinar was a post-convention reflection space for participants to share their experiences, discuss lessons on ethical business practices, and explore the future of direct selling within Nigeria’s digital economy.

Moderated by Thelma Ilems, the webinar featured seasoned journalists Sulaiman Aledeh, Adeyemi Adepetun of The Guardian, and Juliet Umeh of Vanguard Newspaper. Also present was Ayokunmi O. Solesi, QNET’s general manager for sub-Saharan Africa.

Ayokunmi O. Solesi, in his comments, outlined QNET’s three guiding pillars: empowerment, community, and innovation. He described the convention as “a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and purpose,” adding that QNET’s mission goes beyond selling products.

“QNET isn’t just about selling products; it’s about building responsibly, sharing success stories selflessly, and ensuring we lift others as we grow,” Solesi said. “That’s what true entrepreneurship means, creating opportunities, adding value, and helping others rise.”

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He also noted that QNET’s Gold Stevie Award for Consumer Protection stands as proof of its commitment to transparency and ethical business practices. Solesi further hinted at new product innovations aimed at enhancing wellness and improving energy and balance without addiction.

Describing the event as “not a make-believe session, but an avenue to relive and recount authentic experiences from Malaysia,” Thelma stressed that QNET’s purpose was to give room for transparency, ethics, and the real essence of direct selling.

Sulaiman Aledeh, sharing his experience, spoke about QNET’s innovation and product quality. “Never in the life of anyone have we seen one company with so much all about elevating,” he said. He commended QNET’s product range, from skincare to air purifiers, and urged Nigerians to embrace the direct selling opportunity.

Journalists’ Firsthand Experiences

Recounting his trip, The Guardian’s Adeyemi Adepetun described VCON 2025 as “a sublime experience.” He further noted: “The hospitality was awesome. From the airport to the hotel, everything was well-coordinated.” 

He commended the sheer scale of the event, attended by over 10,000 people, and expressed admiration for QNET’s efficiency and product innovations in wellness and energy solutions.

“There is an unusual energy around me since returning,” he added, referencing QNET’s pendant and wellness patch products.

Adepetun also acknowledged the company’s collaboration with Nigerian regulators and law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to tackle misinformation and fraudulent activities in the direct selling space.

For Vanguard’s Juliet Umeh, the experience was equally memorable. She spoke about QNET’s authenticity, saying, “If you were there, you would know that QNET is real,” she stated, stressing that the public must end the act of speaking without facts.

She spotlighted the company’s collaboration with local authorities and regulators to ensure ethical practices. Sharing a lighter moment, she recalled the hospitality and cultural exposure: “The Malaysians made us feel at home. The food, the people, even the driver, everyone made sure we didn’t frown for once.”

Juliet also highlighted how QNET’s philosophy of “Raise Yourself to Help Mankind (RYTHM)” translates into its empowerment and wellness initiatives. She applauded the company’s wellness-focused products, including the Amezcua Chi Pendant 4, Amezcua Bio Disc 3, Q Alive, and E-Guard, which she said help consumers mitigate radiation exposure, restore energy balance, and promote healthy living.

Both journalists described visits to Penang Hill, Quest International University, and QNET’s product exhibition, where they saw firsthand how technology and wellness intersect in the company’s portfolio.

Addressing Industry Misconceptions

During the Q&A session, a participant asked how QNET addresses public scepticism about direct selling. Responding, Solesi explained that the company continues to engage with institutions like the EFCC and the Nigerian Police Force to fight fraud and misinformation.

“We’re not into recruitment; we sell real products that people benefit from,” he said, reaffirming QNET’s stand against Ponzi schemes.

He added that QNET’s growing partnerships with regulators and the media are part of its mission to promote ethical entrepreneurship and restore public trust in the direct selling industry.

In her closing statements, Thelma commended QNET and Newmark for sustaining open dialogue with the Nigerian media. “This webinar reinforces what we already know, transparency and storytelling go hand in hand,” she said. “It’s not just about selling; it’s about empowering.”

“It gets better each time. We should do a revisit; I think we all deserve another round of VCON,” Sulaiman Aledeh stated.

Since beginning operations in Nigeria in 2022, QNET has continued to drive empowerment through initiatives such as FinGreen, which promotes financial literacy, and partnerships with orphanages including Little Saints Orphanage and Babe Salaam.

Participants agreed that engagements like the Beyond VCON webinar are essential for strengthening transparency, building public trust, and promoting responsible entrepreneurship across Africa’s growing direct selling ecosystem.

The online session featured Nigerian journalists who travelled to Malaysia for QNET’s flagship V-Convention (VCON) and returned with firsthand perspectives on the company’s operations.

Ayokunmi Solesi, QNET Nigeria’s general manager, opened the conversation by addressing the core reason behind the webinar: public scepticism. He stressed that misinformation is rampant, and it’s damaging. 

“QNET invited journalists who had personally attended VCON to share their unfiltered accounts. These journalists saw things for themselves, asked questions, had honest conversations and experienced the events firsthand,” he said.

Solesi reiterated QNET’s guiding principle: Raise Yourself To Help Mankind (RYTHM). He explained that this philosophy is more than a slogan,  it’s a call to personal growth that, in turn, uplifts others.

”When we rise and grow individually, we should also create room for others to rise with us, not only in business, but in impact and also in purpose,” he said.

Solesi made it known that personal growth means little if it does not empower others. He described QNET as a platform designed to enable entrepreneurship, promote sustainability, and deliver long-term impact. 

He didn’t shy away from the controversies surrounding the brand, acknowledging the flood of misinformation online. His message encompassed the fact that truth cannot come from speculation, it must be seen, experienced, and told without filters.

At the heart of the webinar was something companies rarely rely on; raw, personal narratives from independent observers. Rather than polished press statements, QNET leaned on those who had walked the grounds of the Spice Arena in Penang, Malaysia, and interacted with the company at its core.

One of the journalists, Precious Igbonwelundu, head of City Crime Defence and assistant head of Investigation at The Nation newspaper, recounted her experience:

“My experience at VCON exceeded all my expectations. I have covered QNET in Nigeria before, but I never realised the scale of the company. The crowd I saw at the Spice Arena in Penang was incredible. I saw thousands of people from India, the Philippines, Africa, and the Middle East, all working toward a common goal. They all understood they were not employees; they were individual business owners, focused on rising and helping their downliners rise with them.”

She didn’t stop at numbers and stage presentations. What shifted her perception, she said, were the open doors QNET offered — including access to Quest International University (QI University), where access was unrestricted and eye-opening. She witnessed medical training facilities, including cadavers used for experiments.

“A lot stood out for me, especially the level of transparency. We have heard many negative things about QNET in Nigeria, but when they took us to places like the Quest University, we were given unprecedented access. We even saw the cadavers used for medical experiments. I don’t believe a fraudulent or faceless business would grant that kind of access. This gave us a firsthand view of how real the company and its sister businesses are, and the impact they are making on society.”

She also commented on QNET’s corporate structure and ethical expectations. According to her, there’s more to the company than products and marketing. There are systems in place to guide representatives, including ongoing training and mandatory assessments.

“I was also motivated by their ethical approach and strong corporate governance. I saw that they are a company focused on giving value, not just making money. They motivate people and ensure that their representatives follow laid-out procedures, even requiring them to take examinations from time to time to stay in the system.”

Kayode Bakare, group head of Programmes at RHYTHM FM Nigeria, also spoke during the session. He reiterated the transformational nature of the trip, highlighting both logistical excellence and transparency.

“The sheer magnitude of VCON, with its thousands of attendees, left a profound impression on me. We were also taken to the QI University, where we met the vice-chancellor and toured the entire campus, including the medical and radio facilities. This helped us understand that some people in Nigeria had created a fake campus to scam others.”

Bakare directly addressed the long-standing doubts about QNET’s authenticity.

“In one word, it was an amazing and delightful experience. We now know for sure that QNET is a legitimate company, and they are actively working to address the actions of dishonest individuals who use their name.”

The moderator, Veronica Dan-Ikpoyi, ensured the discussion stayed focused on the journalists’ testimonies rather than corporate talking points. Her role helped amplify the message that perception must change, and that the truth about QNET is best understood by those who’ve seen it up close.

In an economy like Nigeria’s, where entrepreneurship is usually the only escape route from unemployment, platforms like QNET are bound to attract both fair and unfair reviews.

The company knows this, but rather than retreat behind generic PR, it has chosen to show its hand and invite the world to see for itself.