Two Nigerian Firms Receive First ISO 50001:2011 Certifications

Peter Uzoho

Two Nigerian companies that successfully implemented the energy management system in their organisations based on the International Standard for Energy Management (ISO 50001), have received the first ISO 50001:11 certification in the country.

The companies, Aarti Steel Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of steel roofing sheets based in Sango Ota, Ogun State; and Grand Cereals Limited, an integrated food production company located in Jos, Plateau State, became the first Nigerian companies to achieve the feat with support from the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), co-funded
by the European Union and the German Government.

The certification was presented to them at a Breakfast Meeting on Energy Efficiency in the Industrial Sector held in Lagos recently, organised by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), in conjunction with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
(MAN).

Speaking, Head of Programmes, NESP, Ms Ina Hommers, stated that with increasingly competitive global business environment, companies needed to find ways to save money, improve profitability and increase competitiveness while still maintaining a high level of productivity and quality. She noted that the ISO 50001 Energy Management System
would help companies to develop energy policies and set energy targets in line with the policies.

“The standard is voluntary and applies to all types and sizes of organisations. Achieving the certification has provided the two companies with opportunities to increase energy efficiency, improve performance, reduce costs and foster change in company culture,” Hommers said.

In his keynote address, Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, said the recognition of the two companies was a wakeup call to the entire Nigerian citizens on the benefits of imbibing energy efficiency measures in their utilisation of energy.

Aboloma who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Planning, to the low energy generating capacity of Nigeria, everyone should be interested in efficient management of the little being generated, stressing that ISO 50001 had been recognised worldwide as good tool that enhances and improves energy efficiency when implemented.

“What once seemed impossible has been done. Aarti Steel Nigeria and Grand Cereals Limited have achieved certification to ISO 50001 from AENOR with the support of GIZ. What started with an implementation/auditors course in ISO 50001 in 2015 has transformed into certification for these two companies. These two certifications are in fact the first of such certifications in Nigerian to ISO 50001,” Aboloma said.

He pointed out that the success recorded by the two companies carried with it a lot of responsibilities and benefits, saying that, Nigeria was looking up to Aarti Steel and Grand Cereals as pioneers to the energy efficiency methodology and to defend what the certifications stood for.

Also speaking, Director-General, NACCIMA, Mr. Emmanuel Cobham, commended the NESP for the technical support it provided in the exercise and congratulated the recipients of the certifications for making history as the first Nigerian companies to receive such recognition.

Cobham, however, assured that NACCIMA would, in line with its objectives, continue to support activities of the NESP and SON, to ensure the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the pursuit of commerce, industry and all other forms of economic activity of interest to the private sector.

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