SON empowers MSMEs for global competitiveness

Acknowledging the importance of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as growth drivers and promoters of industrial growth and economic development, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has commenced an initiative to empower small businesses in Lafia, Nassarawa State with the requisite skills needed to be trade competitively at the global markets.

Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the move by the agency was initiated to drive the nation’s non-oil sector of the economy considering present economic realities and the current government’s focus on a zero oil economy.

‎The initiative, which commenced yesterday, is aimed at driving the nation’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, in order to make their products grow and compete anywhere in the world.

According to him, Nigeria’s export capacities; market access and product acceptability can only be promoted through voluntary quest and compliance to standards, while SON plays the mandatory role of providing required standards and specification.

Odumodu however called on the need for the sector to adhere to strict standard principles to achieve a sustainable ‎industrial growth in the country.

He advised that the private sector should at this point begin to adhere to standards in order to occupy the space created for the diversification of the economy, adding that the agency has put in place a policy that ensures that MSMEs are involved in the standards development process through inclusion in Technical Committees for elaborating standards.

“The sensitization programme is expected to promote the activities of the newly opened SON State office which is intended to support the ‎agricultural and industrial development initiatives of the State government,” the SON boss added.

He said standards are technical documents that state the minimum or maximum product or services requirement for adjudging quality and ensuring the protection of human, animal and plant lives.

“They are necessary instruments for facilitating fair trade across borders thereby enhancing competitiveness for sustainable economic development. Standards remain the backbone for industrial and economic development of any country and create the unspeakable link between the consumer and products,” he stressed.

The Director General said in developed economies, standards are private sector driven through voluntary compliance while the governments’ role is limited to providing platforms for meeting the standardization needs.

He said this is because‎ standards have been accepted and proven to be a critical tool that enhances products and service competitiveness for attracting consumer confidence and patronage.