The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has sensitised manufacturers, consumers and other stakeholders to the need for quality and standards in goods locally manufactured or imported.

The agency said the programme was in line with its mandate and vision of ensuring that all goods both locally manufactured or imported conform to the relevant industrial standards.

Speaking at an event in Asaba, Delta state, the Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of SON, Chief Emeka Duru, pointed out that SON organised the sensitisation forum which is aimed at strategically projecting the vision with a view to facilitating trade and enhancing the economy.

Duru who spoke on the topic, ‘Facilitating trade, enhancing the economy’, added that the forum was an avenue for SON and the stakeholders to brainstorm on areas they can be of assistance to enable them carry out their businesses positively by following the laid down standardisation procedures.

He however called on the need for SON and the stakeholders to brainstorm in order for the agency to feel their pulse and decipher the particular areas where they can be of assistance to them.

Earlier, the Coordinator of Delta State office, Mr I.O. Olagoroye, said that some of the benefits of standards include customer satisfaction, compliance with regulatory requirements, competitiveness for local and international market access, enhancement of business growth, reduction in cost of doing business and minimising of waste and loss.

The Director-General, SON, Mallam Farouk A. Salim, who was represented at the event by the Regional Director, Anambra Region, Mr Don-Pedro Ebenezer, reminded all the stakeholders that the SON is the apex standardisation body in Nigeria, responsible for the formulation and establishment of standards relating to various products, commodities, measurements, processes and materials for the certifying of products in Nigerian commerce and industry.