Tinubu asks OPS, public sector to promote quality culture

• Advocates Sustainable National Quality Infrastructure
President Bola Tinubu has challenged the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to always demand quality products and services from their public sector counterparts and vice versa, as part of deliberate efforts to promote a quality culture among the citizenry, across all economic frontiers in the country.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, in a keynote address at the opening of a workshop on Sustainable Provision of Metrology Services in Nigeria in Lagos, the President stressed that constant demand for quality products and services by all, would enhance the nation’s ability to trade seamlessly beyond our borders, especially in view of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.

The workshop was held under the auspices of the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP), supported by the United Kingdom Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the office of the SGF, Dr Maurice Mbaeri, the President stated that a more efficient and sustainable National Quality Infrastructure, as being facilitated by the effective implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) under the SPP, would support significant increase in non-oil export for increased foreign exchange earnings, a stronger naira, improved capacity utilisation, job creation and general growth of the economy and the welfare of the citizens.

He called on relevant stakeholders to remain proactive in driving the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, in view of Nigeria’s official endorsement as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent at the recently concluded 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, NQC, Osita Aboloma, expressed the council’s commitment to a more efficient National Quality Infrastructure that would accommodate both the public and private sectors and support increased competitiveness of personnel, produce, products and services made in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Dr Simeon Umukoro of the UK Department for Business and Trade at the FCDO reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade enhancement efforts in line with the signed UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership MoU, being demonstrated through the Standards Partnership Program already at Phase II.