The Standards Council,  the highest decision-making body of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has approved a record three hundred and thirty-nine new product and services standards for publication and use in Nigeria.

The approved standards which cut across various products and services were approved at the Council’s 3rd meeting held in Lagos last week, in line with the provision of the SON Act number 14 of 2015.


Chairman of the Council and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Edet Akpan commended the Technical Committee of the Council and the SON Standards Development  Directorate for the painstaking work done in coordinating stakeholders active participation in the development as well as editorial work of the Standards.

According to him, the approved Standards will not only boost the quality of goods and services available to Nigerians but also improve their competitiveness in the local and international markets.

In his remarks the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria Mr Osita Aboloma stated that the standards consist of 85 newly developed standards, 32 reviewed and 223 adopted from existing continental and international standards.

He stated further that the standards include a large number of service standards to meet the demands of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the federal government’s economic diversification agenda.

The service standards according to the SON helmsman, are specifically meant to improve the quality of the products and services of MSMEs in the various sectors of the economy.

He urged members of the council as Standard’s ambassadors to help carry the message of standardisation and quality assurance to the nooks and crannies of the Nation in order to accelerate the achievement of the SON mandate.

In a related development, members of the Council undertook a tour of SON facilities at Lekki, Victoria Island and Ogba.

At the Ogba Laboratories Complex, Mr. Edet Akpan and other members of the Council expressed delight at the state of the art facilities which they said, compare favourably with similar facilities in developed economies.

The complex which accommodates 32 laboratories included, the electrical laboratory for testing batteries, bulbs and lightings, refrigerators as well as electrical cables.

Others include paint testing, food and micronutrients, plastic and polymer laboratory as well the SON technical library.

At the SON Training Centre (STS) also within the complex, the Director-General, Osita Aboloma Esq. told the Council members that it is the only centre accredited by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) of UK in West Africa, rendering training services in international management systems standards.

He then presented the accreditation certificate to the Council Chairman who congratulated the DG and SON management for the giant stride.

Mr. Akpan urged the staff not to rest on their laurels but intensify efforts towards continual improvement in service delivery and a shortened turn around time.

SOURCE: https://brandspurng.com/son-council-approve-339-new-product-service-standards-to-boost-economic-activities/