SON Promises Total Compliance to Quality, Standard Products

Hammed Shittu, Ilorin

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has vowed to ensure total compliance with quality of goods and services being imported into the country and those being produced locally in order to improve the economic development of the country.

‎The Kwara State Coordinator of SON, Mr. Sunday Yashim, who spoke with journalists in Ilorin shortly after presenting Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) to Forgo Battery Ltd. Ilorin said: “The agency is poised to make life save for Nigerians by ensuring that quality goods and services are produced for people’s consumption and usage without any adverse effect on their socio well being.”

Forgo Battery Company being an innovative establishment is an emerging major player in the automotive battery sector.

He said: “SON had identified that most substandard products were imported from China, adding that the organisation was ready to ensure that foreign companies complied with its Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

“We have found out that most of the substandard products in Nigeria are from China, and we have our people in place over there to make sure that they produce to our
standards. We are ready to make sure substandard goods are taken out of the Nigerian markets.”

Yashim, who represented the Director General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma at the event, however, presented the MANCAP certificate to the Managing Director of Forgo Batteries, Ilorin, Mr. Offorjama Joseph.

Yashim however warned that the certification, which had a unique number, could not be transferred and the MANCAP logo could be used only on the awardees products.

“In view of the above, the organization attaches conditions to the certificate and use of the logo, this includes that the certificate is valid for a period of three years.
“The certificate may be revalidated at the end of the third year and MANCAP certification number and logo cannot be shared or transferred.

“The certificate will be withdrawn if the number is shared in addition to lack of conformance of the product to minimum requirement of the standard,” he added.

Yashim therefore appealed to the staff and management of the company to ensure the sustainability of quality products.
In his remark, the Managing Director of the Forgo Battery Limited, Ilorin, Mr. Mrs. Offorjama Joseph expressed his appreciated to SON for its guidance and encouragement in‎ the process leading to the certificate.

According to him, “We appreciate the objectives and role of SON in ensuring products manufactured in Nigeria competes in quality with best brands anywhere in the world.

“At this juncture, I want to commend the efforts of the director general of SON in his resolve toward ensuring that manufacturers adopt best practices and their products comply with Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS)

“The presentation of MANCAP certificate to Forgo today for us is a starting point and we will like to sincerely thank the head of SON in the state, and his team in ensuring that today is a success and reality.”

Offorjama however identified lack of adequate power supply and sourcing foreign exchange as major challenges facing the Nigerian industries.

He said that some raw materials and spare parts for the production of batteries were still being imported.

He therefore urged the Federal Government to help industries in the areas of foreign exchange and improved power supply.
Also speaking at the event, the state commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Muhammed Riffin said that, the state government would continue to support local manufacturing companies in the bid to add values to the economic development of the state.
The commissioner who was represented by the Director of Commerce, Alhaja Aishat Abubakar, urged the company to continue to produce quality goods adding that, this would assist the company to move forward

Nigerian Breweries Rewards Trade Partners
After a fulfilling and rewarding business relationship in 2016, brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries Plc last Friday in Lagos, rewarded its distributors and trade partners spread across the country.
The award ceremony, which took place in Lagos recently was in honour of distributors and key transporters of the company who excelled in the course of their business partnerships with Nigerian Breweries Plc last year.

Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde thanked the distributors for the longstanding relationship and the value added to the business last year. He restated the commitment and sustained support of the company in the years ahead despite the continuing challenges in the economy.
“As partners for greatness, we need you now more than ever before to win. The environment is more intense and the competitive landscape continues to change every day locally and globally, “he said.

He disclosed that as the company looks forward to 2017 and is prepared for the challenges, the years ahead will be more profitable, since the fundamentals of the Nigerian market is very positive. Vervelde lauded the partners for 70 years of support and affirmed that the company looks forward to sustaining its partnership with them in the years ahead.

The company’s Sales Director, Hubert Eze thanked the company’s customers for the unrelenting support throughout 2016 and explained that the annual award was conceived to be a celebration of their excellent performance in the preceding year.He added that despite the challenges in the operating environment, the company did well in 2016 and achieved many milestones as a result of the partnership with them. He challenged the customers to resilient as they set out to achieve their mutual business objectives in 2017.

During the event, several awards were presented to winners including the CFAO Award for Non-alcohol Distributors; Growth Award and Isuzu Direct Depletion to Road Award. Others were Regional Key Transporters Award; Brand Champions; National Key Transporter; Regional Champions and National Champions.
In the climax of the event, last year’s winner, Ken Maduakor Group Limited from Nnewi in Onitsha marketing zone beat two others to emerge National Champion and the company’s best distributor for 2016.

Nathan Ofoma and Sons Limited, Nkpor, Anambra State came second and beat IfeomaChukwuka Nigeria Limited, the winner in 2013 and 2014, to the third position
Maduakor who set an African record last year by selling more than five million cases of beer in 2015, broke his own record by selling more than six million cases in 2016. He thanked the company for the gesture and advised that the momentum be sustained so that the company and its partners will remain on top.

For their efforts, Maduakor got a ten-pallet Isuzu Truckand an award trophy while Nathan Ofoma and IfeomaChukwuka each got a six-pallet Isuzu NMRand an award trophy.
Ancaps Global Investment Limited from Kaduna won the National Key Transporter Award and got a plaque, an award trophy and a Mitsubishi L200 double cabin 4×4 DC Van. Pauline Chimex who won the raffle draw for the night got a Mitsubishi L200 Van.
Nigeria Breweries Plc, the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria was incorporated in 1946 and marked its 70th anniversary on November 16, 2016.

CSR: SOS Calls for Improved Child Care Framework in Nigeria
A global child care organisation, SOS Children’s Village has urged the Nigerian government and private individuals to help improve the framework of child care in Nigeria.
According to SOS, unrest in the North eastern part of the country has placed Nigeria with over 17 million orphans and vulnerable children; the highest number in Africa.

With presence in 34 countries across the globe, SOS said it runs with a vision to ensure that no child grows up alone, and has touched over 220 million children around the world, including over 6,000 in Nigeria.

The organisation said it has been working in Nigeria for over 43 years and now needs assistance locally to further expand its reach in the country.
Addressing journalist during the weekend in Lagos, SOS Children’s Village President, Siddhartha Kaul said the call for help is part of the organisation’s resolve to intensify its advocacy on the need for government to uphold their obligations with regards to child rights.
Kaul said, “A democratic government is responsible for its citizens. We are therefore calling on the government to uphold their obligations by partnering organisations to reach the children who need support.

He further explained that “SOS has reached over 6000 children in Nigeria. We operate in Abuja, Ogun, Ibadan, Lagos and Plateau State. We have testimonies of Nigerian children who came in at the age of five and are now married. We have those who have gained scholarship to study abroad while some are into vocational jobs in Nigeria. To expand our reach to other parts of the country, we need help from both government and private individuals.

“We are getting support locally, but we need more to meet the needs of these children. Currently, we get less than 10% or our resources form government. Government can help by creating programmes to support these children. They can also support our organisation financially and with other resources.”

He concluded by stating SOS is a transparent organisation that runs an open book, and donors can be sure that all their contributions to the organisation will be accounted for. Kaul added that SOS has a sponsorship programme and fund raising scheme through which people can assist the children.

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