The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the country’s lead agency in the promotion of non-oil exports, has advised manufacturers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State to adhere strictly to proper standardisation and certification of export products in order to compete favourably in the international market.
Shoe manufacturers in Aba exports products to neighbouring West and Central African countries; however, their transactions have been done unofficially, denying them export incentives.
Nonye Ayeni, executive director/chief executive officer, NEPC, in an address at an export workshop on the implementation of relevant standards on quality certification on products for export, held Thursday in Aba, explained that imbibing certification culture will progressively increase the number of Nigerian small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) that would be able to export their products globally.
Ayeni, who was represented at the forum, by Okechukwu Amaechi, the Council’s acting State coordinator, said that product certification, will ensure safety, build trust, comply with regulatory requirements, reduce the risk of product rejection and ensure that products meet specified standards.
She said that the NEPC over the years has employed a number of promotional strategies aimed at motivating stakeholders in non-oil sector, noting that the export workshop was a strategy to educate stakeholders and exporters on the importance of certification and standardisation of products.
Anthony Emeh, Abia State coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), expressed displeasure over the non-chalant attitude of some manufacturers in Aba, towards product standardisation.
He said “some manufacturers see SON and other government regulatory agencies as punitive, rather than partners. SON is created to facilitate trade and not to stifile trade. Our activity is also geared towards protecting lives of consumers.
According to him, “SON works with industry experts to fashion out standards. It does not impose standards on manufacturers. And for you to export, your product must go through the process of certification to protect it.”
He explained that product standardisation, helps brands to scale businesses and compete well in the market and appealed to manufacturers in Aba to take advantage of SON to standardise their products for export.
Ejike Nnamani, deputy director, Abia Coordinating Office of the Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who delivered a paper titled “The importance of good manufacturing practices (GMP) in ensuring product quality”, urged manufacturers to adopt good manufacturing practices, to ensure that their products are constantly produced and controlled to the quality standards appropriate to intended use.
He affirmed that sustained adherence to GMP principles shall provide assurance of product quality.
Ukachi Nwaojigba, head, Trade Information, Abia Office of NEPC, said that the Council provides technical support to exporters to ensure proper documentation of export transactions, monitors the quality and standards of products going out, to ensure that they are of high quality.
Nwaojigba, who delivered a paper titled,
“Understanding export trade,” stated that the NEPC creates an avenue for exporters to come together under one umbrella to relate and discuss issues related to export promotion and development, thereby making it easier for exporters to network with one another.
“If you are unsure of where to get particular products for export, you can ask the NEPC for help. We would be able to give you information on where to find the products you are looking for in Nigeria.
“If you are registered with the NEPC, you can easily access some of the grants and incentives that the government doles out regularly to help exporters in the country,” she said
