THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) plans to partner with states governments across the federation for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.
SON made the announcement in a statement released on Friday, stating that the move is to help the MSME subsector compete globally while also engaging the teeming unemployed youths in the country.
The Director-General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, who spoke at a capacity building workshop for journalists in Lagos, stressed the need to develop the capacities of MSMEs and empower them to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Salim said the agency was winning the war against fake and substandard goods, noting that the level of seizures had increased tremendously.
According to the DG, the responses from market associations and stakeholders from different sectors indicate that the quality of goods has increased significantly, particularly steel and cables.
Salim said consumers should always reach out to the SON should they have issues purchasing goods online, adding that monitoring goods online could be very difficult.
“We have offices all over the country and you can bring these goods and the receipts for us to clarify these issues, so that we can go back to these online dealers to seek redress,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director, Standards Development, SON, Chinyere Egwuonwu, added that the Nigeria National Standardisation Strategy aims to support the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan.
