SON certifies range of local products in FCT
As part of government’s effort to ensure that locally manufactured products are accepted globally, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) has certified wide range of locally manufactured products in Abuja that meet Nigerian Industrial Standards.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator of SON, Chief Gambo Dimka said that the significance of the certificate issued to the manufacturers shows that their products meet the Nigerian Industrial Standard and by extension global standard.
Dimka further explained that the manufacturers who attained the SON certification can very well export their products to any part of the world.
He added that other government agencies and organ of global body like Export Promotion Council, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) also participated in the event.
The FCT Coordinators also called on newly certified manufacturers within FCT to take advantage of 80 million naira earmarked by FCT administration through a micro finance institution to assist Small and Medium Enterprise in Abuja to expand their business.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Rywara Confectionaries Ltd, Olaruwa Efedayo expressed his management’s excitement for the SON certification.
Feed ago said, “we feel so good, and it is an indication that we are doing something well and it is also a challenge on us to keep on doing well in term of standardization of our product.
He equally called on government to release what he referred to as ‘standard operation procedure’ to every company to benchmark a minimum standard, while appealing to the regulatory and standardisation agencies not to cut corners but always insist that the right things must be done by the manufacturers.
While reiterating the need for manufacturers to produce quality products that can compete with imported products, he also appealed to Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria products to boost the nation’s economy.
On his part, another manufacturer and the Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Company Limited, manufacturer of ‘Our Mayor Bottled Water.
Dr. Vincent Ukaoma explained that his brand of bottled water contains 0.03 percent PDS and seven percent PH; boasting that his water is tropical, unlike the acidic water that in Europe and American markets.
KUkaoma explained that the certification process was transparent as manufacturers are only required to do the right thing and the rest is history, noting that his market strategy is to continue to maintain the good quality that earned him the certification.
