Following the need to diversify and grow the economy of the country for sustainable development,the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr.Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna has observed that the commodities exchanges can serve as key catalyst for development of critical sectors,because it offers credible platform for trading and facilitating export of commodities.

He made the statement on thursday while declaring open a stakeholders sensitization workshop on commodity standards organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria at Grand Central Hotel,Kano.

“To achieve this our commodities must conform with internationally accepted standard “.

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The Deputy Governor added that in Kano through Agro-Processing,Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS) they are seeking to enhance agricultural productivity of small and medium scale farmers as well as improved value addition along three priority value chains of rice,wheat and tomato.

“This objective will be achieved through support for increased productivity of farmers and their linkage to markets…in this regard the commodity exchanges can play a critical role by ensuring commodities price stability and providing market access to farmers”.

He further said the workshop as part of the national standard development process is relevant and timely,therefore…I congratulate the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria for partnering to organise the workshop.

This workshop is a signal that with strong collaboration among institutions,regulators and stakeholders we can exceed our target sooner than expected.

Gawuna therefore assured of continued support and cooperation to the two agencies so as to enhance the standards of the commodities.

In his remarks, the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Farouk Salim noted that since Nigeria is ready to key into the global sustainable commodity market,his agency is also ready to partner in areas where its services are needed.

While imploring the traders and other stakeholders along the commodity value chain to ensure compliance to standard with evidence of certification,he reiterated that Standards Organisationof Nigeria is committed to ensuring that the primary objective of the commodity exchange to offer fair pricing to the producers and genuine commodities to the consumers is achieved through quality production based on conformity to relevant national commodity standard.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, Lamido Yuguda said this is the second in the series of workshops organised to enhanced commodity standards and part of the result of their partnership with Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

In a statement by Hassan Musa Fagge said others who spoke at the occasion include the representative of the Emir of Kano, Sarkin Shanun Kano Alh.Shehu Muhammad Dan Kadai.