The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Thursday awarded its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification to 13 manufacturing companies in Kano state.
In his speech, the Director General of SON, Malam Faruk Salim, represented by regional coordinator , Mr. Usman Muhammad, said the MANCAP certification was a mandatory requirement for local manufacturers.
He stated that the MANCAP certification was a seal to show that a locally manufactured product had met the requirements of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) to protect the health and safety of consumers.
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Salim said that the 13 manufacturers whose products received MANCAP certificates of conformity ha gone through process, procedures and rigorous journey and their products have been found fit for use.
The D-G however, advised the recipients to ensure that the certification mark was applied only to products that complied with the requirements.
He then warned that any violation of the product certification terms and conditions will attract serious consequence including possible suspension or outright withdrawal of certification.
Earlier, the Kano state coordinator of SON, Malam Yunusa Muhammad, said that MANCAP program was a product certification scheme implemented by the organization in 2006, aimed at certifying locally manufactured products to the minimum requirement of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard(NIS).
“Compliance with these standards ensures that all locally manufactured goods conform to the minimum requirements of the relevant of NIS before being exposed for sale.
“Made in Nigeria products are strictly regulated both for promoting fair competition in the domestic and international market and at the same time protecting well-being of Nigerian consumers,” he explained.
According to him, MANCAP award ceremony is crucial to the organizations bid to increase awareness of the benefits of product certification with a special focus on the increasing number of (SMEs) in the country because they contribute significantly to the economy.
Muhammad urged the manufacturers not to rest on their oars and strive for quality and also deploy every available continuous improvement tools to remain on track.
The coordinator noted that the products would subjected to quarterly surveillance assessments in order to ensure they maintain consistency in their quality assurance processes.
He then advised other manufacturers who ha not certify their products do so without further delay, saying that in a highly competitive local and global market it is quality that will separate the boys from the men.
Usman Abdullahi of ABY lubricants, promised to work toward maintaining the MANCAP certified status.
Abdullahi who said that MANCAP certification was not a one stop thing, promise to keep the set standards at all times.
Our correspondent reports that the recipients of the MANCAP certificate cut across different sectors, including manufacturers of paints, chemicals, as well as household items and consumables.
The representatives of police, DSS, NSCDC, Federal ministry of trade and investment, Kano Consumers Protection Council and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commissions As well as local manufactures were present at the event.
