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By Merit Ibe
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Niger State, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, to foster economic inclusion, enterprise development, and community resilience.
Representing the Director General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, the Niger State Coordinator, Office 1, Minna, Mrs. Hauwa Nuhu Yusufu, announced the collaboration during a courtesy visit to the First Lady in Minna.
The visit served as an opportunity to convey goodwill, offer condolences regarding recent security challenges in the state, and explore avenues for joint efforts in advancing the First Lady’s women’s empowerment initiatives.
During the meeting, Mrs. Yusufu highlighted SON’s mandate to support local industries through its ongoing Entrepreneurship Support Programme. She noted that over 300 products had already been certified under the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) and the Product Authentication Mark (PAM) schemes, granting local businesses access to both domestic and international markets.
Mrs. Yusufu specifically encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing that standardization is the bedrock of sustainable developmental and humanitarian projects.
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“Standardization is key to ensuring that regulatory activities thrive, which in turn will help sustain the impact of the First Lady’s empowerment programmes,” Mrs. Yusufu remarked.
As a gesture of appreciation, the SON delegation presented a formal letter to the First Lady, thanking her for attending the recent commissioning of the SON Niger State Office. They also provided her with copies of the SON Act 2015 and other key organizational publications to aid in policy alignment.
In her response, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago praised SON’s commitment to improving its operations within Niger State. She reaffirmed her dedication to working closely with the organisation to enhance the livelihoods of women and local communities through sustained collaboration.
The SON delegation was received by the First Lady alongside several senior officials, including Hajiya Hadiza Idris Kuta, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, and Hon. Ladidi Bawa Bosso, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.
The partnership marks a significant step forward in strengthening Niger State’s efforts to empower women, scale local businesses, and build a more resilient state economy.
