SON certifies 3 companies, 33 products in Kwara
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara awarded three manufacturing companies with the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP).
The 33 products from the three companies: Raladex Global Services Ltd, Adejunmo Nigeria Enterprises, and Crown Flour Mills Limited, were also certified.
Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director-General (D-G), SON, gave the certification at the MANCAP and Training of Stakeholders on best practices and consumer responsibility.
Okeke, represented by the Kwara State Coordinator, SON, Mr Ayenioye Feyisayo, explained that MANCAP was a mandatory programme where locally manufactured products in Nigeria must comply with standards before distribution to the markets.
“For the past nine months, these companies went through rigorous assessment by SON to ensure their consistency, compliance and adherence to standards is exceptional.
“Products without MANCAP certification are not supposed to be in the market, and are regarded as substandard products.
“Today is a day to celebrate those companies that endured these processes so that they can be certified.
“Manufacturers must be determined to improve, adhere to the laid-down standards, be willing to comply and demonstrate their cooperation so that we can work together with them.
“This is to ensure that products within the country are superlative and competitive. When manufacturers cooperate with us, evidently the economic growth of this country will be superlative,” he said.
Also, Hajia Abiola Bayero, Chief Standards Officer, Head of Unit, Food Codex, warned against producing substandard products.
She added that manufacturers must be acquainted with the product liability standards.
According to her, this is to protect consumers by ensuring fair business practices, transparency, and access to information about products and producers.
Earlier, Mrs Mariam Dolapo, Assistant Chief Standards Officer, SON, explained that there were about 13,000 working standards in the country.
According to her, SON reviews the standards of products a minimum of every five years.
“Reviewing standards ensure quality of products and services, improve performance and help manufacturers achieve growth. It also reduces risk, and enforces safety,” she said.
An awardee of MANCAP, Dr Hafiz Rizwan, General Manager, Quality and Nutrition Olam Agric, Crown Flour Mills, commended SON for maintaining standards of products in Nigeria.
“It is only when products have quality and standard that they can compete with other products from any part of the world,” he said.
