The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has restated the agency’s strong commitment to supporting local manufacturing as part of efforts to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development.
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday at a one-day Stakeholders’ Forum for Manufacturers, MSMEs, Importers, and Exporters, Dr. Okeke emphasized that protecting homegrown manufacturers is a priority for the present administration, particularly as it works to discourage excessive importation and strengthen domestic production.
The event, themed “Standards: The Pillar for Innovation, Safety and Sustainable Development,” brought together key players in the industrial and trade sectors to discuss how enforcing standards can foster innovation, ensure product safety, and support sustainable economic growth.
Dr. Okeke, who was represented by Mrs. Talatu Ethan, SON’s Director of Corporate Affairs, highlighted the ‘Nigeria First Policy’ as a central pillar of the government’s industrial strategy.
“This is not just a directive from above,” she said, “it is a challenge to every Nigerian to look inward, support homegrown solutions, and raise the quality of local production.”
He added that strengthening standards compliance would reduce the influx of substandard products, protect consumers, and accelerate the country’s economic progress.
