Director General/ Chief Executive Officer, SON,
Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke | File Image
SON: With the right standards and quality assurance in place, our local manufacturers could produce high-quality leather products that could compete with the best in the world
By Valentine Amanze
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has appealed to stakeholders to adhere to standards in leather and textile sector to leverage into the lucrative global market valued at over $1 trillion.
SON had been working with manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to ensure Nigerian leather and textile products meet international standards.
The appeal was part of SON’s strategic efforts to promote standardization and quality assurance in the leather and textile industry.
The Director General/ Chief Executive Officer, SON, Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, made the appeal in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, at the stakeholders’ sensitisation/ capacity building workshop the agency organised to enlighten artisans and other manufacturers on the need to standardise their products on Thursday.
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Okeke said that SON had been working closely with stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies, to ensure that Nigerian leather and textile products meet international standards.
Okeke, who was represented at the forum by Chukwuma Aharanwa, the director, South-East Regional Operations of SON, said that in recognition of MSMEs, as drivers of the nation’s economy, SON put in place a policy that ensures that MSMEs and other relevant stakeholders were involved in standards development process, through inclusion in technical committees (TC).
He further disclosed that SON’s intervention has led to a significant improvement in the quality of leather products in Nigeria.
“Local manufacturers are now producing high-quality leather goods, such as shoes, belts, and handbags, that can comslete favorably with international brands,” he said.
The SON boss said that the repositioning of the sector would have a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy.
“The sector is projected to create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, and generate significant revenue for the government,” he said.
He expressed optimism about the development, stating, “Nigeria has the potential to become a major player in the global leather industry. With the right standards and quality assurance in place, our local manufacturers could produce high-quality leather products that could compete with the best in the world.”
Okeke said that successful repositioning of the leather sector was a testament to SON’s commitment to promoting standardization and quality assurance in Nigeria.
Stella Chamberlain, the head of department, Marketing, SON, in her remark, said that Aba was notable for trade and industry, which have thrived over the years, stressing that for the operators to remain relevant that they must produce quality and competitive products for consumers at all times.
She said that the workshop was put together to provide more information on the benefits of standardisation to businesses, while exposing stakeholders on ways of consistently achieving standards to sustain their businesses.
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