SON gets 12m euros grant from EU to boost standardization
The efforts of the Federal government to eliminate fake and substandard products in the country has received a major boost following the injection of 12m Euros grant to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) by the European Union (EU).
According to the EU, the grant was for capacity building and infrastructure development to ensure that the country acquires the required hard ware for calibrations, metering and measure in accordance with international best practices.
This was disclosed by the Lead National Expert of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Abimbola Uzomah on Monday during the celebration of African Day of Standardization organized by SON in collaboration with African Regional Standards Organization (ARSO).
Mrs Uzomah, who represented the UNIDO Director Mr Jean Bakole said that the fund, which has since been disbursed to the federal government for supporting products standardization said that UNIDO was the facilitator and will collaborate with other relevant agencies to achieve standards in all spheres.
She pointed out that the country made a landmark achievement in standards by establishing the Institute for meteorology in Enugu, saying that when completed it will provide acceptable metrics, calibration, weights and measures of products.
“As I speak, the institute of metrology in Enugu is being built to provide calibration services, which include ensuring proper weights and metering of products. The institute will be ready soon.
“UNIDO is providing assistance in this regards and also helping in capacity building for SON to help it achieve its mandate.
“UNIDO is also helping in managing the 12 million euros that has been provided to the government by EU for encouraging products standards in the country.
The Director General of SON, Osita Aboloma, in his remarks said that this year’s occasion provided the federal government the opportunity to re-appriase its efforts in global and intercontinental efforts for promoting standardization and conformity assessment.
He said that this year’s celebration with the theme ” The Role of Standards in Promoting Women’s Right” targets the rights of women in the consumption of local and foreign products in the country, stressing that in doing this, tariff barriers for increased trade and market access has to be eliminated.
In a telephone interview, SON’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr. Bola Fashion, confirmed that the Institute of Metrology, Enugu is 60 percent completed and when functional will go a long way to improve the international perceptions of products coming from the country.
Stakeholders, who participated in the celebration of the day included representatives of women groups, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
At the event, certificates were presented to winners of the 4th African Regional Standards Organization (ARSO).
