By Merit Ibe
The newly appointed Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has assured that he would promote the development of home-grown industrialization to support the present administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
In his remarks on assumption of office, Okeke said his immediate plan is geared towards realising the agency’s mandate of improving lives through quality assurance.
According to him, the strategic approach will be a holistic approach that boost made in Nigeria products to strengthen the naira.
The new SON DG noted that the organisation would use policies and standards regulations to improve job creation, poverty reduction and boost confidence to trade.
He said he would elevate the agency’s infrastructure to international standards and ease access to test laboratories for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMES) products.
Okeke also said his leadership would popularise outcome of standards adopted to align with industry needs and global best practices.
The new SON boss said such development would go a long way to support both import and export trade.
In his words, “I have received the baton of stewardship today, I must take full control of the activities of the Organisation while taking directives from my superiors, the Standards Council and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“My immediate priority will be to review the hand-over notes quickly to address the areas of concern towards achieving our objectives timely.”
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment, assuring him of his resolve to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil through ensuring that locally made goods are produced to meet global standards.
“I am indeed very grateful to our dear President for this appointment. I will remain focused on his agenda of homegrown economy and the industrialisation of the country. To my Minister, I must thank you immensely for this recognition as I promise to pursue the realisation of the organisation’s mandate.
“May I also recognise the efforts and achievements of my predecessor, Mallam Farouk I. Salim, within the three years of his leadership and the other CEOs who helped numerously to improve the lives of Nigerians through Standards over the years,” he said.
Acknowledging that governance is a continuum, he pledged commitment towards continuing noble projects on ground that would help in achieving the President’s Home Grown Economy Agenda and increasing the competitiveness of Nigerian Products both at home and at the international markets.
“Stakeholder engagements shall form critical pillars of my administration while encouraging the micro, small and medium scale enterprises, as they are the engine drivers of the nation’s economy and growth.
“We are going to encourage the industry operators to take the issue of products testing as a very key element to productivity and economic growth,” he assured.
“The staff and general staff development will receive greater attention as the organisation remains a reflection of the workforce at all times.
“Productivity and efficiency shall be my watchwords, as we protect the nation from the dangers of substandard products,” he pledged.
According to him, eradicating substandard products will ultimately lead to higher capacity utilisation of Nigeria’s teaming industries and create more opportunities for youth employment.
“Once more, I remain ever grateful for this opportunity while soliciting for the support of all in this very important mandate,” he averred.