Sent in by SON
Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan which was recently lunched by the federal government has started to make the desired impact as Nigeria goods can now favourably compete with other goods in the international market.
This hint was recently dropped in Abuja by the Hon. Minister for Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegu Aganga while unveiling two Standards Organisation of Nigeria laboratories which were accredited by the International Laboratory Accreditation Association based in the United States of America.
Speaking to news men after the formal certificate presentation, Dr Aganga said that federal government took the issue of economic diversification very seriously hence it mapped strategies aimed at ensuring that Nigeria goods including industrial products were easily exported to different parts of world with zero rejects.
Said he, “once a product is tested in the newly SON accredited laboratories and certificate issued in favour of the product no body or organisation can question or query it any where in the world” With this development he continued, “Nigeria can now embark on massive industrialisation on areas it has comparative and competitive advantage.
The era of Nigeria farm products facing rejects at the international market is now over as farmers and other entrepreneurs can now take advantage of the new laboratories to test their products before export which in effect entails less waste and return on investment.”
Earlier, the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Dr. Joseph Odumodu thanked the minister for creating a favourable environment which enabled his organisation to realise the target given it by the government. He said further that in addition to setting up National Quality Infrastructure for the country as directed by the Hon. Minister, his organisation became proactive by creating a process to support the federal government policy on Nigeria Industrial Revolution plan through standardisation and metrology as well as conformity assessment programs.
The SON boss expressed appreciation to his technical staff in the Lagos laboratory who worked tirelessly in order to ensure that the two laboratories were accredited as no foreign consultant was engaged for the assignment. He also requested the assistance of the Hon. Minister in addressing other challenges facing his Organisation.
The Director General of Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Dr. Segun Awolowo and his counterpart from the Nigerian Commodity Exchange were some of the government agencies represented at the event.
