By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has certified the production of 25 products, including Shea butter and groundnut cake, popularly known as ‘kulikuli’, as part of its commitment to improving the nation’s agricultural sector.

Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General, SON, according to a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, said the certificate presentation exercise held in Minna, Niger.

Salim, represented by the State Coordinator, SON, Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf at the event, said that the certificates were to win consumers’ confidence as well as assist ‘Made in Nigeria’ products cross the border into the international market.

He said the Standards body awarded its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificates to 25 Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Niger for adhering to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS), with 16 MANCAP certificates and 7 revalidation certificates presented to the beneficiaries.

The move, according to the SON DG, was imperative to make Nigeria’s products more competitive in the ongoing Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA).

He said that some of the products certified include table water, bread, block, garri, ice cream, yoghurt, milled rice, paddy rice, shea butter, fertilisers, paint, groundnut cake (kuli kuli) and rice flour.

Salim noted the need to drive the nation’s agricultural sector to generate the much needed foreign exchange, especially at a time when the primary foreign exchange earner was dwindling at the global front.

“MANCAP ensures that all locally manufactured products conform to the relevant NIS.

“Manufacturers should take advantage of it in order to turn around their businesses for good.

“The MANCAP logo embossed on the deserving products serves as a guarantee that the purchasers not only get value for their money, but are also assured of the safety of the products.

“When we award the MANCAP certificate to a company, we are attesting that such company’s brands conform to standards and have undergone intensive conformity assessment.

“We are also guaranteeing that the product can be sold in Nigeria and used in any other country in the world,” he said. (NAN)