By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it is carrying out regular market surveillance to ascertain quality and gather data on products’ performances in the markets.

The Direction General of the organisation, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, made the disclosure during SON Special Day at the ongoing 35^th Enugu International Trade Fair.

Okeke said that Enugu International Trade Fair offers great opportunities to reach out to Nigerian and Foreign manufacturers and other businesses on the activities and the impact SON was creating in the growth of businesses in Nigeria, particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Director-General, however, said that MSMEs contribute to 48 per cent of the Nation’s GDP, account for 96 per cent of businesses and 84 per cent of employment with a total number of about 17.4 million.

Okeke hinted that the sector had played significant roles in the growth, development and industrialisation of the country, adding that SON ensures that MSMEs and other relevant stakeholders were involved in standards development process through inclusion in Technical Committees for elaborating standards.

He said that the theme of the fair, “Promoting Made in Nigeria Products for Competitiveness” in the emerging global market, was timely, especially with the Standards harmonisation programme in Africa under the African Regional Organization for Standardisation (ARSO).

The Director-General said that the impact of the establishment of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in connecting businesses cannot be overemphasised as it would boost intra-Africa trade.

“We carry out regular market surveillance to ascertain quality and gather data on products performance in the markets.

“Our ultra-modern National Metrology Institute (NMI) in Enugu is a testimony that Nigerian products are ready for global competitiveness.

“Some parameters being tested in SON Laboratories are accredited, which implies that result of products tested are acceptable anywhere in the world, this eliminates fear of rejection and encourages exports,” he said.

Okeke urged all manufacturers and producers, including importers and exporters, to take advantage of their services to better their businesses as they would not hesitate to use law against any person or group of persons found sabotaging the efforts of the Organization.

In his remarks, the Enugu State Coordinator of SON, Mr Peter Ameh, said that trade fair offers opportunities to reach out to Nigerians and Foreign manufacturers, importers, exporters, dealers and service providers on the activities of the SON and its impact on growth of businesses in Nigeria.

Ameh said that the primary role of the organization was to increase local revenue sources and focus on the international market through promotion of made in Nigeria products and services.

“SON has put in place lots of strategies and initiatives to foster rapid economic development through the elaboration of standards in the various sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Technology, Health, Industry, Tourism & Hospitality, Oil and Gas amongst others” he said.

He said that sensitisation and collaborative meetings with critical stakeholders across the country was another way of impacting the culture of standardisation in the various sectors by promoting voluntary certification of products for local consumption and improvement.

Earlier, in a welcome address, the President of the Chamber, Chief Odeiga Jideonwo, lauded SON for enlightening them on the activities and operations of SON.

Jideonwo, represented by the first Deputy President of the Chamber, Mr Nnanyereugo Onyemelukwe, explained that SON regulates and ensure that products/goods are produced to the product authentication mark.

He said that the special day offers them the opportunity to interact and exchange views between the officials of SON and the public as it would go a long way to clarify and enlightened the public

•SON DG, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, with ECCIMA Deputy President, Nnanyereugo Onyemelukwe, at the 35^th Enugu International Trade Fair

Update news