Why MSMES, Others should patronize SON, Okeke, others

By: Babatola Adeyemi

“The benefits of standards and standardization are immense. Standards ensure that goods and services meet minimum safety and quality benchmarks, protecting Nigerians from harm. Compliance with standards opens up regional and international markets for Nigerian products, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area [AFCFTA] framework”

With these words, the Director General [DG] of the Standards Organization of Nigeria [SON]-Dr Ifeanyi Okeke- yesterday in Lagos justified why the regulatory agency should enjoy the patronage of operators in various sectors of the economy, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises[MSMES].

Affirming these at a one-day capacity workshop for Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria [CICAN], where other Directors of the organization disclosed some achievements globally acknowledged, the DG added: “Standards drive process efficiency, reduce production costs and improve the quality of outputs. They promote sustainability and eco-friendly practices in production and service delivery. Moreover, adherence to standards fosters innovation and encourages the adoption of global best practices”.

Okeke therefore urged the workshop participants to assist the organization with necessary publicity and public enlightenment, the reason for which he said the workshop was considered worthwhile.

He urged the attendees to become advocates of quality and champions of the Nigerian Industrial Standards [NIS]. He stressed that they have a critical role to play in projecting the Nigeria First policy which prioritizes the patronage of locally made certified products, adding that they are also to enlighten all sector operators and the public on how standardization helps Nigeria to harness the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area AFCFTA.

Okeke, who said that standards have become the currency of global relevance, also tasked the participants to sensitize local manufacturers and businesses and indeed Nigerians generally on the importance of compliance with the NIS, just as he urged them to promote the visibility and benefits of SON’s key programmes, like the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme [MANCAP] and other product certification schemes.

Corroborating the DG during his presentation on “SON’s Civil/Building Laboratory“, Mr Obiozor Anthony Emeka disclosed, to the surprise of many, that the organization tests all civil products, including construction materials-like cement-, Ceramic tiles, Paving blocks, wood and wood-based products and even health care products-like the Plaster Of Paris [POP]. “Even Water closets are tested here”, Emeka said.

He explained that different tests are carried out depending on the product, but generally, they try to ascertain that the products actually have the content the producers claim they have and even where that is the case they would also want to ascertain that the products are produced with the required standards. Citing some examples, he said cement had to be tested to know the chemical content, the setting time and its resistance to chemical attack among others.

The Director commended the organization for investing heavily in the best testing equipment-which he said are very costly-some of them in thousands of dollars, just as he lauded its prudence.

Buttressing the latter, he disclosed “For some of these tests, we use distilled water, and rather than spending on this, this product is produced by SON’s water distiller”. He stressed the importance of public awareness on the usage of civil and building materials, stating“

In his own presentation on “SON’s calibration services and Nigeria’s Industrial growth, the Head, National Metrology Institute [NMI] operations –Mr Samuel Ayuba-said the need for calibration of equipment to ensure the accuracy of measurements cannot be overemphasized.

He urged organizations to appreciate the huge investments that SON has made to provide calibration services in Enugu, Lagos, Abuja, Kano and PortHacourt by patronizing the organization. “It’s difficult to get a better calibration service elsewhere in the country apart from SON because the equipment used are very expensive. One of them, for example, costs $7,000 dollars and SON has 70 of this. So, people should come to where they can get the best to ensure accurate measurements”.

Also during her presentation on “Ensuring Food Safety through Standards Elaboration”, the Deputy Head, Food and Agriculture Group –Mrs Nene Obianwu- said the testing processes cover so many products, like horticultural ones including fruits and vegetables, Apiculture ones like Honey and honey products and many others, like milk and milk products and cereals, grains and legumes. The sole objective, she explained, is to ascertain that these foods and agriculture products are free from pathogenic microorganisms and other harmful substances so as to ensure the safety of consumers.

She said that many products are sold in the market with false claims on content, thereby exposing consumers to dangers of all sorts. “Even popular products are involved. In this department, we verify all the claims made by producers through tests for the safety of consumers”.

Another presentation was on “Growing the Electrical/Electronics Sector with Standardization”, handled by the Head, Electrical/Electronics-Engineer I.A Lawal.

He disclosed that SON established standards to phase out filament bulbs which consumes so much energy and introduced energy saving bulbs standard and LED bulbs which consume less energy and are brighter.

Among other disclosures by Lawal, this is indeed remarkable: “Due to SON’s effort and collaboration with Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, today, made-in Nigeria cables are the best in the world. SON cable laboratory is accredited to World Standard ISO 17025”.

Also presenting on “Quality Lubricants Guarantee Safety and Protection”, the Head, SON’s Lube laboratory -Mr Bathinyi Ahmadu said the organization remained committed to precision and accuracy , be it on Premium Motor Spirit [popular called petrol, Automative Gas Oil [engine oil] Household
Kerosene or aviation fuel, among others.

Some of the parameters used in achieving set objectives, according to him, included testing sulphur content, specific gravity, kinematic viscosity, flash point, fire point, shear stability and colour. Ahmadu was excited to disclose that some of the lab’s parameters are currently being accredited as stipulated by ISO 17025.

An Assistant Director -Mrs AranniLewa Comfort- also did a presentation on “Food Technology Laboratory”. According to her, the department has various units where food products, agriculture products and others are tested, like Microbiology testing laboratory and mycotoxin laboratory and others.

Such tests, she stressed, are quite revealing, citing an experience three years ago when “no single tested disinfectant in the country passed quality tests”. The department also does nutritional analysis, she added, which includes a verification of the additives in products and products’ sugar content verification as well, among others.

The seventh presentation was on “Promoting Organizational Growth Through Management systems Certification [MSC]”, by the Assistant Director, SON’s MSC- Mrs Rabi Idakwo. She explained the critical need for MSC, which she said enables organizations to manage their operations efficiently and effectively to achieve set goals. MSC certification, she emphasized, simply but surely affirmed that an organization is tested and trusted and therefore reliable and deserving of patronage.

Another presentation on “How SON’s Training Services Build MSMES & Ensure Sustainability was done by Mrs. Emmanulla Somawine. She spoke excitedly on the various training services provided by SON, disclosing that the organization is open to customization.

“Standards are improvement tools. We train on standards. Besides, our training covers all kinds of customer needs as they may desire. Our goal is to build national capacity through comprehensive training programmes”.

The ninth presentation on “MANCAP/SONCAP- Critical Regulatory Tools for Competitiveness was done by Mrs Ijeoma Umego. She explained that the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme [MANCAP], which all manufacturers must strive to obtain and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme [SONCAP], which must accompany all imported products are to guarantee quality products for the safety of consumers and both deserve adequate publicity.

The tenth presentation on “Marketing” rounded off the presentations. Mrs Victoria Yoriyo who did it acted so passionately as if she wasn’t informing Journalists but wooing potential customers. “Our services and products at SON, most of which you have already been told are not just to be known or even known by those who already know, but are preferred”, she said cheerfully.

Earlier at the event, the Chairman, CICAN-Mr Charles Okonji- described the capacity building workshop as a most welcome and very timely event, even as he canvassed SON’s sustained partnership for mutual benefits. Okonji acknowledged SON’s support over the decades, which he said had been quite helpful, noting that the regulatory agency has also in return enjoyed good reportage by the association. “So SON should keep it up and even do a lot more”, the CICAN Chairman also stated.