Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, warned that the longstanding lack of regulation in conformity assessment activities has harmed industries. Speaking at the National Register for Conformity Assessment Practitioners stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Thursday, he identified several root causes: inadequate protection of genuine practitioners from unhealthy competition by unqualified “quacks,” low visibility and recognition of competent professionals, and poor value for money for customers who inadvertently patronise these unqualified providers.
Salim explained that the engagement was guided by SON’s strategic collaboration with various organisations, particularly the SON Management Systems Certification and Training Services departments, which interface directly with customers. The purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting was to underscore the importance of authentic, traceable products and services that meet relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards and other approved specifications.
The committee overseeing the process draws members from critical sectors of the economy, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, among others. All members have received adequate training for their roles.
“This registration process will, no doubt, strengthen the mutual responsibility we share as partners in nation‑building and position your businesses for better visibility and recognition,” Salim said. He urged participants to treat the call to contribute to nation‑building with the urgency it deserves, emphasizing that proper controls and monitoring structures for conformity assessment will enhance the operational efficiency of the national quality infrastructure.
Bode Okeh, chief consultant to Top 3 Concepts Nig Ltd, added that the engagement exercise will help weed out incompetent management‑systems practitioners.
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