SON, COTECNA organizes sensitization conformity program for stakeholders in Calabar
Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, in partnership with COTECNA, a Testing, Inspection, and Certification Company has organized a one-day Conformity Assessment sensitization program for stakeholders to promote quality exports into Nigeria for sustainable economic growth.
The event was held over the week at the conference hall of the Transcorp Hotels, Calabar.
SON Product Certification Director Tersoo Orngudwem, in his presentation, stated that misrepresentation is common among the exporters, noting that in most cases, what is stated in the certificate is often not what is taken to the Cargo for export.
Explaining that all goods in Nigeria are exportable, however, most people are unaware of the requirements of the export market, he urged interested parties to seek such requirements from SON because it works directly with other organizations in other countries.
His words “Even when most of our exporters know the requirements, our packaging is very wrong, not attractive at all. Also, sometimes we overprice, well the overpricing could be the problem with our infrastructure. You’re providing electricity and water yourself, so eventually the cost of production will be added to the price so it becomes difficult” he maintained.
He said “My first advice is let us not cut corners in our production, let’s do things right and our goods will be accepted. Sincerity of purpose is what we Nigerians need to sell our product outside the shores of this country because we are intelligent people, There’s nothing we produce here if we want to do it right that will not meet international requirements”
“It is a quest to make fast money that makes us produce substandard goods” he stressed.
In his presentation, the Nigeria COTENA manager, Ade Adeniran commended the participants for finding time to participate in the most important conformity event and charged them to consider SONCAP certification as mandatory for express custom clearance of SONCAP regulated goods and advised the potential not to conclude shipment without obtaining the mandatory conformity certificate.
In her reaction, the Cross River State Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Abigail Duke maintained that the present government under the leadership of Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu is poised to reposition its Agro Allied products for export to other countries of the world since the previous administration has laid a solid foundation to thrive exports.
The event is part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote exports and grow the economy.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of a certificate of participation to the participants.
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