Business leaders, regulators, standards practitioners and other industry stakeholders will gather in Lagos on October 29 for the ISO World Summit & Awards 2026, with the organisers seeking to promote quality, trust and business excellence among organisations in Nigeria and across Africa.

The summit, themed “Quality Creates Trust. Trust Builds Brands,” will take place at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event is expected to bring together business leaders, quality professionals, standards practitioners, regulators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, corporate executives and other industry stakeholders to examine how organisations can build stronger and more globally competitive businesses through quality-driven systems and international best practices.

According to the organisers, the summit comes at a time when quality, trust, compliance and business credibility have become increasingly important to the success and competitiveness of organisations operating in Nigeria and across Africa.

A major focus of the summit will be the need to view quality as more than an ISO certificate.

The organisers said true quality should be reflected in the way an organisation operates every day, including the consistency of its products and services, customer satisfaction, the reliability of its processes, the integrity of its people and its commitment to continuous improvement.

International standards such as ISO 9001 provide organisations with structured approaches for establishing, maintaining and continually improving quality management systems.

When effectively implemented, the organisers said, such systems can help organisations improve consistency, manage processes more effectively, understand customer requirements and create a stronger culture of continual improvement.

The summit will therefore seek to move the conversation beyond certification and towards the broader business value of quality management, operational discipline, accountability, innovation and sustainable performance.

The organisers said quality and trust are closely connected in an increasingly competitive Nigerian economy.

Consumers want confidence that the products they purchase will deliver what they promise, while investors seek organisations with dependable systems and responsible leadership.

Business partners also require reliable suppliers, while international buyers increasingly demand evidence of quality, consistency, traceability and compliance.

According to the organisers, this makes internationally recognised standards increasingly relevant to Nigeria’s industrial and commercial development.

Strong quality systems can support organisations in improving productivity, strengthening customer confidence, reducing operational inconsistencies and positioning Nigerian products and services for wider domestic and international markets.

The summit will consequently provide a platform for discussions on how quality standards can contribute to industrial competitiveness, export readiness, consumer confidence, regulatory compliance and sustainable economic development.

The organisers said the ability to demonstrate consistent quality and internationally recognised practices is becoming an important competitive advantage as Nigerian companies increasingly look beyond the domestic market.

The summit will highlight the role of standards in helping Nigerian organisations improve the consistency and reliability of their products and services, strengthen customer confidence and brand reputation, and develop more efficient and accountable operational systems.

It will also examine how standards can help businesses improve their readiness for international markets and global supply chains, encourage innovation and continuous improvement, strengthen compliance and responsible business practices, and build organisations capable of sustaining long-term growth.

A major highlight of the summit will be the presentation of the ISO International Standard Quality Certification Awards to selected organisations, brands, institutions and business leaders.

The awards will recognise those who have demonstrated commitment to quality, operational excellence, innovation, customer satisfaction, reliability, ethical business practices and sustainable performance.

The organisers said the recognition would also spotlight the individual leaders behind outstanding organisations, including executives, innovators, creative minds and operational leaders whose vision, discipline, leadership and strategic decisions have contributed significantly to building high-performing, trusted and respected brands.

The awards are intended to celebrate organisations that have distinguished themselves through strong performance, effective systems, visionary leadership and a sustained commitment to delivering quality and building lasting trust.

The awards will reinforce the principle that sustainable success is built on performance, rather than promotion alone.

By recognising organisations and leaders that raise the bar, the summit seeks to encourage a wider culture of excellence across Nigeria’s corporate, industrial and institutional landscape.

Beyond the awards, the ISO World Summit will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, professional engagement and business networking.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions around quality management, international standards, organisational excellence, innovation, customer experience, compliance, leadership, business integrity and the future competitiveness of Nigerian enterprises.

The summit will also create opportunities for organisations and professionals to connect, exchange ideas, discover new perspectives and explore practical approaches to improving organisational performance.

The organisers said the future of successful African businesses would increasingly depend on their ability to combine quality, innovation, integrity and trust.

They described a quality-driven organisation as one that does more than satisfy a standard, but also builds confidence. A trusted organisation, they said, does more than attract customers; it builds relationships, while a strong brand does more than achieve visibility; it creates lasting value.

The philosophy forms the basis of the ISO World Summit 2026.

The organisers said the summit seeks to inspire organisations across Nigeria and Africa to view quality not as a compliance obligation, but as a strategic business culture capable of strengthening brands, improving performance and creating sustainable value for customers, employees, investors and society.

The ISO World Summit & Awards 2026 is expected to attract distinguished business leaders, corporate organisations, quality professionals, standards practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders and leading brands committed to building a stronger culture of quality and excellence.

As stated by the organisers, the summit will carry the message that quality is the foundation, trust is the outcome and excellence is the destination.

The ISO World Summit & Awards 2026 is being convened by the organising committee chaired by Ahmod Bandile, PhD.