President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged the organized private sector in Nigeria to always demand for quality products and services from their public sector counterparts and vice versa, as part of deliberate efforts to promote a quality culture among the citizenry, across all economic frontiers in the country.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume in a keynote address at the opening of a workshop on Sustainable Provision of Metrology Services in Nigeria in Lagos, the President stressed that constant demand for quality products and services by all, would enhance the Nation’s ability to trade seamlessly beyond our borders especially in view of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.
The workshop was held under the auspices of the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP), supported by the United Kingdom Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the Office of the SGF, Dr. Maurice Mbaeri, the President stated that a more efficient and sustainable National Quality Infrastructure as being facilitated by the effective implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP) under the SPP, would greatly support significant increase in non-oil export for increased foreign exchange earnings, a stronger Naira, improved capacity utilization, job creation and general growth of the economy and the welfare of the citizens.
He called on all relevant stakeholders in Nigeria to continue to be proactive in our roles to drive the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, in view of Nigeria’s official endorsement as the Digital Trade Champion for the continent at the recently concluded 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Senator Akume expressed appreciation to the United Kingdom Government for the huge support and assistance it has been providing to the National Quality Council (NQC) towards the effective implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy through the SPP.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, NQC, Osita Aboloma expressed the Council’s commitment to a more efficient National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that accommodates both the public and private sectors and support increased competitiveness of personnel, produce, products and services made in Nigeria.
Aboloma stated that the NQC mandate of effective implementation of the NNQP would positively impact the National Quality Infrastructure, especially in relation to increased non-oil exports and mitigation of Nigeria’s export rejects, both of which according to him, have potentials to promote self-sufficiency and improved earning capacity from seamless trading with rest of the globe.
Also speaking at the occasion Dr Simeon Umukoro of the UK Department for Business and Trade at the FCDO reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade enhancement efforts in line with the signed UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership MoU being demonstrated through the Standards Partnership Program already at Phase II.
“The UK and Nigeria remain strategic partners in trade and investment. By improving Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure, we are unlocking new opportunities to drive innovation, competitiveness, eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, promote export competitiveness and economic growth for both nations,” he said
Dr. Umukoro stated that the SPP, backed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), aims to establish a robust quality infrastructure focused on improving standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing and metrology services to boost UK/Nigeria’s export capacity, attract investment, and enhance trade efficiency that is aligned with global standards and best practices in Nigeria.
