By Franklin Alli

STANDARDS Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is set to certify a minimum of 150 SMEs in the country to the internationally acclaimed ISO 9001:2001 Quality Management System and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Standards within the next one year at no cost to them.

Accordingly, the agency has inaugurated a technical committee to drive the implementation of the project in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Members of the technical committee comprises Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), NEPAD, SMEDAN, NERFUND, Abuja Enterprise Agency, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, charged members of the committee to work assiduously to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the project.

Critical stakeholders

According to him, the project which is being undertaken in Nigeria with active involvement of critical stakeholders in the development and growth of SMEs includes training in the area of general standards application, food safety and quality management systems to enhance the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods for domestic use and export.

Represented by Mr. Damian Agbanelo, Director of Technical Services, Odumodu said the terms of reference include to guide and advise the consultants from the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as the main body of stakeholders in the project (including umbrella bodies of SMEs, Manufacturers, chambers of commerce and industry, development partners and poverty alleviation agencies and finance institutions) on the effective implementation of the goals, strategy and objectives within the allocated timeline.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Robert Okiyi, pledged the commitment of members to ensure that SMEs in Nigeria get maximum benefit from the programme by working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Consultants to the project and all relevant stakeholders including development partners and financial institutions.