The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) commemorated the African Day of Standardization with a grand event held in Abuja, which featured the official launching of several new national standards, including the much-anticipated Nigerian National Standardization Strategy (NNSS). The event also recognized outstanding young minds through an award ceremony for the winners of the National Standardization Essay and Quiz Competition.
The event, which drew stakeholders from various sectors, was graced by top government officials and industry leaders. The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI) was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting national standardization efforts and the implementation of best practices across all sectors of the economy.
The launching of the NNSS marked a significant milestone for Nigeria’s standardization landscape, as it aims to provide a clear strategic framework for the development, promotion, and adoption of standards across industries, fostering innovation and economic growth.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of FMITI commended SON for its pivotal role in driving the nation’s standardization agenda and emphasized the importance of standards in ensuring product quality, consumer safety, and the competitiveness of Nigerian goods in the global market.
Other dignitaries in attendance included heads of various government agencies and regulatory bodies, who reiterated their support for SON’s initiatives and the critical role of standards in achieving Nigeria’s industrialization goals.
The event concluded with the presentation of prizes to the winners of the National Standardization Essay and Quiz Competition. The competition, organized annually by SON, aims to raise awareness among students about the importance of standardization in national development, while fostering a culture of quality and innovation among the younger generation.
SON’s Director-General Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, in his address, highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to ensure the successful implementation of the newly launched standards and strategies. He also applauded the student participants for their exemplary understanding of standardization concepts and urged them to continue contributing to the nation’s standardization efforts.
The African Day of Standardization serves as an important platform for African countries to unite in their shared mission of advancing regional integration through the harmonization and adoption of international standards, with Nigeria continuing to play a leading role in this effort.
