By Nurat Uthman
Faruok Salim, the Director-General/Chief Executive of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has stated that Nigeria’s agro-allied products are marketable worldwide and that the organization will uphold its standards without compromise.
Salim emphasized that SON will intensify efforts to educate agro-allied product producers across the country on adhering strictly to SON standards, as part of its support for the government’s economic diversification agenda.
Speaking at a workshop titled “Standard Adherence: Catalyst for Trade” in Osogbo, Salim, represented by Talatu Ethan, the Director Southwest, stated that SON is at the forefront of promoting diversification into agricultural products for revenue generation.
He highlighted the global acceptance of Nigerian products and the collaboration between the government, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to ensure that locally produced goods meet international specifications.
The objective of the workshop was to raise awareness about the importance of standards and to ensure that manufacturers, producers, and processors meet the minimum requirements set by SON. Standards for products such as Garri, honey, dry and smoked fish, among others, were mentioned.
Salim emphasized the role of SON in training, educating, and creating awareness in the agro-allied sector to promote quality production, especially in light of the administration’s focus on food security.
He also mentioned the implementation of mandatory conformity assessment, which will help local producers meet the minimum standards required to compete with foreign products. Manufacturers who deviate from these standards will face sanctions, while those who comply will receive encouragement and support.
Sulaiman Araokanmi, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Osun state chapter, described the workshop as timely and empowering for agro-allied producers across the country.
