The Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON, has urged Small and Medium Scale Enterprises SMEs as well as agricultural firms operating in Delta and Edo States and environs to embrace standardisation in the production and other business processes in line with international best practice.

Director-General of the organisation, Osita Abolma, who spoke recently in Asaba, during the official handover of its new zonal office donated by the State Government, said that the decision of the apex standards bureau to the Edo and Delta axis was informed by the need to bring the benefits of standardisation to the door-steps of firms operating in that section of the country.

He said that the operators of these firms should do themselves a lot of good by taking advantage of the proximity of the organisation’s standardisation regime by integrating these businesses in line with international best practice.

According to him, the only way the efforts of the organisation in establishing the Delta State office would be appreciated and fully taken advantage of is by integrating these businesses.

While appreciating the Delta Sate Government for helping to make the dream of a regional office in the state a reality, the DG said the Dr. Ifeanyi Ukowa administration has demonstrated good faith in accommodating the SON within its territory, urging other states to follow this good example.

He therefore promised that technical and support staff would be deployed to the office shortly to make it functional. According to him, the office would work to fast-track registration and other formalities within the zone, in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

It was gathered that in line with the standardisation and integration policy, micro and SMEs would be assisted in having their products and processes registered, as way of helping them improve their processes, become more marketable, and their products more competitive in the international market.

“Another area of prime focus is the agricultural sector where Nigeria has great potential, many of which have not been tapped. Our unrelenting efforts have seen to the establishment of Nigeria’s first food laboratories accredited by the International Laboratory Accreditation Corporation ILAC of the United States

“We have been trying to sensitise Nigerian companies to come forward and leverage from the quality infrastructure at the SON, to enhance the acceptability of their products. As they do that, they are also helping to raise the corporate profile of Nigeria on the global scene” the SON DG said.

Investigations showed that the food laboratories have capacity to test 200 products and thereby cover all known food items on the table.

The SON-boss argued that both the SMEs and agricultural sectors would play tremendous roles in the government’s National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), adding that SON was ready to play its part towards the success of the programme. He urged Nigerians to also volunteer information necessary to checkmating substandard products, so that the country would become safe for all.

The SON-boss argued that both the SMEs and agricultural sectors would play tremendous roles in the government’s National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), adding that SON was ready to play its part towards the success of the programme. He urged Nigerians to also volunteer information necessary to checkmating substandard products, so that the country would become safe for all.

He said with the laboratory, Nigeria’s exporters would now be more confident to approach the international market with their products having obtained the certification from the SON laboratories after due tests.

Aboloma expressed optimism that not only would this help farmers; but that it would impact positively on the government’s overall income earning potentials.

He said that SON was ready to make its quality infrastructure and schemes available to Nigerian companies, including those in the agricultural food chain. According to him would help them win more confidence on the safety of their products, and ultimately increase international demand.

He noted that such firms should come forward and see how our schemes would help them improve their products and processes, so that they can stand their own in the international market”.