World Standards Day: SON Raises Awareness On Quality

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday organised a road walk in Abuja to celebrate the 2024 World Standards Day and raise awareness on standardisation.

The director-general, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, who  flagged off the event, said it aligned with this year’s theme:  “Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for Changing the Climate.”

He stated that the purpose of the walk was to raise awareness on the importance of standardisation in the global economy. Additionally, it highlights the agency’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, protecting consumers, and building a quality-driven economy.

Okeke noted that this year’s theme reflected SON’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting good health, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity. “Our goal is not just about regulation. It’s about integrating high standards into every aspect of production and consumption to build a healthier, sustainable society,” he said.

“Standards is the bedrock of what we do, it takes its root from everything we do at SON in terms of regulation, in terms of certification and in terms of conformity assessment,” he added.

He explained that World Standards Day, observed every year on October 14, raises awareness among stakeholders—policymakers, businesses, and consumers—on the importance of quality standards.

“We are also recognising the effort of everyone who has participated in standardisation in Nigeria, in Africa and all over the world, we are talking about our National Technical Committee members, our SON management and other professionals, experts, regulators and Industry practitioners that have participated in ensuring that we develop standards over time,” Mr Okeke explained.

The director of standards development at SON, Mr. Yahaya Buka, stated that this year’s theme centers on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the industry.

“Standards are going to be developed and applied in the industry to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is responsibly applied in the industry. We are talking about where products are being manufactured, we are talking about innovation, where things are being developed and where Artificial Intelligence is being used to drive industrial development.

“SON invited some of its stakeholders to share in this vision, by bringing together stakeholders to develop our standards. We have been able to achieve a lot in the area of standards.

“And also in the application of standards we are inviting everybody to join hands with SON to ensure that this standards are applied for the benefit of the goals they are set for. We have about 17 standard development goals and all of them cannot be achieved without the use of standards,” he stated.

Every year on October 14, members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) celebrate World Standards Day. This day serves to honour the collaborative efforts of experts worldwide who have developed voluntary technical agreements, which are published as international standards.

The event drew participants from various sectors, who joined SON staff in promoting the ideals of quality through the walk.