The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) says it is carrying out regular market surveillance to ascertain quality and gather data on products’ performances in the markets. The Director General of the organization, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, made the disclosure in Enugu on Friday at the ongoing 35th 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 DG, however, said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 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 DG 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.
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, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (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.
He also mentioned 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.