Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has been enjoined to ensure the certification of all products from state owned and private enterprises in Cross River State under the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) to promote their competitiveness locally and across the Nation’s borders.
The Executive Governor of the State, Professor Ben Ayade made this request during a visit to the SON exhibition stand at the recently held Job Festival and Entrepreneurship Summit at the Calabar International Convention Centre. The certification of the products of the recently established State owned enterprises for production of instant noodles, jute bags and packaging materials by SON as required by law, would also ensure that consumers get value for their money while promoting the growth of the enterprises through repeated patronage, according to him.
Governor Ayade stated that his Government put the Summit together among others to create over 500 job placements, provide grants for 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state and facilitate the registration of about 100 start-up enterprises by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Isu and the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Hon. George O’ Ben Etchi accompanied him on the visit among other dignitaries. Responding, SON Cross River State Coordinator, Michael Ogbuji assured the Governor that the organisation will intensify its certification of all made-in-Nigeria products in the State under the MANCAP as well as products from the Calabar Free Trade Zone under the off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for imported products.
