Made-in-Nigeria products can attain global competitiveness – SON DG
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO),SON, Mallam Farouk Salim
By Our Admin
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has charged manufacturers in Nigeria to pursue standardization of their goods in other to achieve global competitiveness.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO),SON, Mallam Farouk Salim gave the charge in Calabar at a one-day workshop for stakeholders in South-South Region, organized by the organisation.
Represented by Mr. Usman Mohammed, SON Director, South-South Region, the DG/CEO of SON said it would continue to consult stakeholders on issues affecting standardization and quality assurance, in line with its culture of inclusiveness, collaboration and partnership in order to ensure that Nigerian products attain global competitiveness.
The SON helmsman explained that the essence of the workshop which has the theme: “SON: Partner in Progress for Business Boom via Standardisation” is to enlighten manufacturers on the need to adhere to the requirements of standards, adding that, this is the reason SON is interfacing with relevant stakeholders to ensure that they comply with laid down standards.
According to Salim, the organisation will not relent in its responsibility at ensuring that locally manufactured products meet consumer’s expectations and attain global competitiveness. He went on to explain that SON is currently creating awareness among manufacturers across the country through sensitization campaigns.
Speaking further, he explained that the workshop will educate stakeholders on how to grow their businesses, minimise waste and ensure product cost effectiveness, thereby promoting the economic growth of Cross River State and the country at large”.
The Chief Executive went on to explain the SON product registration processes,”we have locally manufactured and imported products. The locally manufactured products are what we use what we call MANCAP (Mandatory Confirmatory Assessment Programme) to assess the factories.
“We go round the factories, pick samples, test and give them the necessary corrective measures. Internally, we monitor the locally manufactured products very well, as well as the imported, through MANCAP and SONCAP”.
Also speaking at the event, Senior Special Adviser to the DG/CEO and National Coordinator of Sensitisation Programmes, Chief Emeka Duru, stressed the importance of the sensitization programmes, explaining that the platform creates an avenue for SON to interface with stakeholders so that business can move forward. He assured the stakeholders that all their complaints will be treated as soon as possible.
He said: “To interface and bring to bear what SON has to offer to make the economy of the nation move forward, the DG/CEO has taken the pain to ensure I move round the states to meet and educate stakeholders because, without them, SON will not exist. I want to assure you that all questions will be treated”.
In his remarks,the Cross River State Coordinator of SON, Engr. Nimma Apim noted said the “engagement is a step in the right direction and compliance with SON’s specifications is a sure bet to improving services and businesses.”
Presentations were also made by Director, Marketing Department, Engr. Richard Adewumi and the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Engr. Lawal Ismaila.
The workshop had in attendance stakeholders from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Calabar Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), Lafarge Africa Plc, Niger Mills and Officials of the Cross River State Government, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and several others.