By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
Abuja-The Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar has called on various professional groups and associations working with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and other regulators in standards issues to close ranks to optimize the application of international standards in their daily activities.
Speaking on Monday at the World Standard Day 2017 Symposium in Abuja, The Minister of State said that the vexed issues of building collapses, fire disasters, flooding, improper waste management and the like would be adequately dealt with if the various professional groups and associations can apply international standards.
She further noted that the advent of the global village has redefined international standards development and provided ample opportunity to Nations to leverage on positive developments across the world; interact at a much faster rate than hitherto and enjoy the benefits of international standardization.
While laying emphasis on this year’s theme, “Standards Make Smart Cities”, Abubakar said, “the critical issues of making our cities and buildings smarter from conceptualization, through design and construction, that provides for safety, access, good ventilation and aesthetics are some of the issues that the theme of this year’s World Standards Day is calling our attention to.
“Smart mobility through efficient public transportation, reduction in traffic, prevention and quick detection of accidents; smart and renewable energy deployment, security solutions, treatment of effluents and smart health care provisions are some of the issues that should interest us in the discussions at this occasion and others in the near future” she added.
Abubakar who stressed that the role of standards as the benchmark for the provision of all the services mentioned above can however not be overemphasized, assured that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will continue to support the active participation of Nigeria in international standardization programmes being coordinated by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to ensure that the Nation continues to gain optimal benefits therefrom.
In his remarks, the Director General, Standards Organization of Nigeria, (SON) Mr. Osita Aboloma said that the SON has the responsibility of propagating the use of International standard within their nationalities for trade facilitation and general economic emancipation across the world.
He pointed out that SON has continued to propagate global standards through adoption and adaption, adding that active involvement and participation of various stakeholders in Nigeria in the development and review of international standard for every sector of the economy is made possible through various national mirror committees.
After handing out the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme(MANCAP) Certificate to deserving businesses such as Aninze Foods and Drinks Limited, Oceanic Bakery, 212 Bakery amongst others for meeting standards, the SON DG while urging them to sustain the quality and efforts put in so far, however said that SON will not hesitate to revoke their licenses if they are found wanting within this period.
One of the MANCAP award Recipient, Mr. Evbuomwan Osas of Aninze Foods and Drinks Ltd who spoke to The Sight News reporter, said that the SON did several sample analysis and corrected them where ever they went wrong before they were allowed to start production.
He noted that despite the large food produced in Nigeria, value which is a necessity before standards can only come in is lacking,stressing that value make things become convenient, easy to handle and well preserved.
The World Standards Day, 2017 is an annual ritual performed by member countries and affiliates of three international Standardization bodies. These are, the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO); the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
