By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, has commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for its contribution to the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the entire Nigeria’s economy.
She, further applauded SON for its role in the promotion of the government’s policies on the Ease of Doing Business and the promotion of the growth of MSMEs and the acceptability of made in Nigeria goods across the world.
The Minister stated this at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the SON in Abuja, Monday.
While commending the SON for its gradual growth over the years to become Nigeria’s foremost National Standardisation body with enviable reputation across the world, the Minister said that the organisation has contributed in the growth of all sectors of the economy.
“The Organisation has over the years developed into an effective National Standardisation body comparable to its peers with activities ranging from Standards Development, Testing, Measurement and Calibration, Training, Certification to Product Registration.
“As one of the key parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the SON has been a useful tool in the delivery of the Ministry’s mandate of facilitating trade and the growth of the Nigerian industrial sector.
“This is especially important with respect to the growth and the sustainability of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which are the engines of economic growth in any economy and contribute nearly 50% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 80% of employment in Nigeria,” she noted.
Ambassador Maryam Katagum further said that: “Given my role at the forefront of the promotion of the government’s policies on the Ease of Doing Business and the promotion of the growth of MSMEs, I am in a position to vouch for the positive role of SON in the growth of the sector.
“Its activities especially through the MANCAP scheme have contributed immensely to the increased acceptability of Nigerian made products in the international market achieved by this administration.
“One of the goals of this administration is that the country’s economy especially the manufacturing sector benefits fully from the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“The role of SON in achieving this is obvious as the assurance of adherence to internationally accepted standards which SON ensures will eliminate technical barriers to trade making our products more competitive. I wish to assure the Organisation of the continued support of the Ministry in its efforts to achieve this.”
Earlier, the Director General of the SON, Mallam Farouk A. Salim, called on members of the National Assembly to support the plan by the organization to amend the Act that created it.
He said that his vision for the SON for the next 50 years is to be the foremost standardization body in Africa and among the top ranking globally.
He noted that SON under his watch will do everything possible to surmount its challenges including “changes in government policies like the often removing the of organisation at points of entry; foreign trade policy of some governments that actively encourage exportation of substandard products and low disposable income that drives purchase of substandard products.
SON under his watch, he insisted, will do everything within its powers to overcome the challenge of huge population growth with limited resources giving rise to communal restiveness; limited research and development activities to keep pace with rapid innovation in the society and the likelihood of harsh weather and increased natural disaster occasioned by global warming.
In a message of goodwill, the Director General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, assured the SON of its continued support in the years ahead.
Represented by Prof. Martins Emeje, the NIPRD boss disclosed that his instituted will continue use to science to influence decision making in the country.
He recalled the intervention of NIPRD in resolving the COVID-19 herbal solution controversy that was a global issue which emanated from Madagaska.
NIPRD, according him, is undertaking artificial and machine learning project and therefore called on the SON for support, stressing that most of the equipment required by the Instituted for the project will require certification from SON.
The anniversary celebration was garnished by the presentation of awards to few staff of the organisation who have performed exceptionally in the course of their duties.
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