Bokku Mart has issued a public apology after facing widespread criticism over an advert that many Nigerians described as offensive and discriminatory towards the Igbo community.
The promotional clip, which circulated online earlier in the week, triggered strong reactions and was later deleted by the retail brand following heavy backlash.
The advert was condemned by Nigerians who said it portrayed the Igbo ethnic group in a negative light. Many social media users accused the brand of promoting division and disrespecting an entire tribe. Several Nigerians called for a boycott of Bokku Mart products and demanded that the company take responsibility for the insensitive marketing material.
Reacting to the intense criticism, Bokku Mart released a statement expressing regret for the incident and promised that such an advert would not be approved again. The company said it “deeply regrets the offence caused” by the video and assured the public that the advert has been taken down. It added that a review of its internal content approval process was already underway to prevent a repeat of the situation.
Despite the apology, some Nigerians described the company’s response as insufficient, insisting that Bokku Mart must do more than issue a short apology. Critics argued that the apology sounded like an attempt to deflect blame rather than accept accountability. Some cultural groups also demanded further corrective steps to repair the damage caused by the advert.
The controversy further attracted the attention of public figures and regional representatives. A presidential spokesperson for the South East, Denge Josef Onoh, reacted strongly, demanding a full apology to Igbo people across the country. He warned that failure to properly address the issue could attract sanctions from regulatory bodies, saying Bokku Mart must show genuine remorse and respect for national unity.
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria is also expected to look into the incident, as calls continue for stricter sanctions against brands that promote divisive content. Many Nigerians have urged companies to be more culturally sensitive and responsible with their marketing, stressing that adverts should unite and not cause ethnic tension.
