As part of the Organization’s mandate of sensitizing and collaborating with stakeholders across all sectors, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recently met with stakeholders in Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) market for a One-Day Sensitization program tagged “Expanding Frontiers of Auto Spare Parts Sector via Standardisation.”
Addressing the gathering, the Director General and Chief Executive, Mallam Farouk Salim,
DG SON Mallam Farouk Salim delivering his opening remarks
informed that the meeting was to seek out better ways to collaborate between SON and the Auto parts dealers in the pursuit of standardization and also ensure that only goods with high standards and quality is sold in their market in line with International Best Practices.
While attesting to the empowerment given to SON by the Act, the DG set it up by arresting and prosecuting offenders, thereby ensuring sanity in the system and simultaneously boosting the confidence of Consumers. He charged that those cloning successful brands to make quick gains would face the wrath of the law.
According to Salim, Auto-Spare parts production is worth trillions of dollars. It is a very important sector in the development of the economy of the Nation, and therefore said, there is no reason to import fake and substandard products into the country especially when SON has already provided guidelines to guide Importers and Indigenous manufacturers on standardization.
Cross-section of participants at the sensitization
He also spoke to them about the Organization’s Conformity Assessment Program (SONCAP) for goods imported into the Country and the MANCAP scheme for locally manufactured goods. He advised them to enter the program as the benefits of having such certification for their products are enormous.
The SON helmsman also took time to sensitize them about the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and how it is going to be of great gain to Nigeria and Africa in general, so there was a need to take optimum advantage of this huge African market by ensuring that we are marketing and selling goods of high-quality standards.
As such, ASPMDA should be a destination point for other neighbouring West African countries and beyond, and this can only be achieved through standardization.
From L-R Mrs Foluso Bolaji (Director, public relations), Mrs Yeside Akinlabi (Director, Lagos operations), Mrs Alice Muonaglu ( MD, Richbon Ltd), SA/ DG Chief Emeka Duru, DG/CEO Mallam Farouk Salim, Chief Ngozi Emechebe (President, ASPMDA market), Chief D C Oforkansi (Chairman, board of trustees, ASPMDA), Engr. Felix Nyado (Director, Marketing) at the recitation of the National Anthem
The DG assured that SON has an open door policy to public complaints as well as innovative ideas that will help to sanitize the market from fake and substandard products to grow their businesses whilst advising them to also key into the new Products Authentication Mark (PAM) as it would allow for easy identification of fakes products in the market.
The National Coordinator SON Sensitization program and Senior Special Assistant to the DG on Special Duties, Chief Emeka Duru, also addressed participants at the workshop on SON’s mandate and the ease of doing business initiative, urging stakeholders who do the right thing in having the protection and backing of the Organisation, while warning that those who engage in sharp practices will have no hiding place for them going forward.
Presentations were made by different Directors drawn from the various departments in SON, after which the program ended with a Questions and Answers Session.
