SON issues MANCAP certificates to 24 companies in Enugu

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has issued Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificates to 24 companies operating in Enugu State.

The MANCAP certificates covered 41 products of the companies and one of the companies received Product Identification Certificate for its unique product.

Ifeanyi Okeke, director-general of SON, while issuing the certificate in Enugu Thursday said that SON’s MANCAP certificate remained a seal of quality and international standards for made-in- Nigeria products globally.

According him, MANCAP is a mandatory product certification scheme which ensures all locally manufactured products conform with Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) before such products are presented for export.

Okeke, represented by Chukwuma Aharanwa, director, South-East Region of SON, noted that the issuance of MANCAP certificates to the companies followed periodic factory inspections, sampling and laboratory testing on the products to ensure their standards.

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Okeke advised the companies to ensure that products certified continue to meet requirements of their relevant standards.

“The product is to be re-certified every three years and it is of utmost importance that you note that the certificates will be withdrawn or suspended if the products fails to meet the established standards.”

“The benefits of the MANCAP certification included: enhanced business growth and opportunities; improved product quality that meet customers’ expectations; and encourages continual improvement on quality of products and processes by manufacturing companies.

“Promotes global competitiveness among domestic manufacturers and their products; and promotes industrial/economic development by ensuring products meet the requirements of the relevant Nigeria Industrial Standards,” he said.

Peter Ameh, state coordinator of SON in Enugu State, congratulated the companies for passing through SON’s rigorous testing. retesting, monitoring and frequent factory inspections.

What SON do is primarily to provide guidance and mentoring for companies to come out with and attain the best and international standards of their products notwithstanding remote location of their factories.

“Standards is a continuous process and since you (companies) are part of the SON family; we will continue to visit your manufacturing sites, assess you products periodically and give our professional advise where necessary,” he said.

Stanley Nwakudu, chief executive officer of SNC Industries, on behalf of other benefitting companies, said that MANCAP certification would boost the patronage of their products and make them to favourably compete with international brands.