The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has launched a program to help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Aba, Abia State, improve product quality to compete on the global stage.
This initiative focuses on artisans and manufacturers involved in producing shoes, belts, bags, trunk boxes, and garments—key industries in the region.
At a sensitization workshop themed “StandardiZation for Competitiveness: Unlocking Nigeria’s Non-Oil Sector,” Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, SON’s Director General, represented by Chukwuma Aharanwa, emphasized the critical role MSMEs play in economic development. He urged local businesses to adopt standardization practices to access global markets more effectively.
Abia State’s vibrant textile and leather sectors are vital contributors to Nigeria’s economy, producing over 60% of the country’s new shoes. The Aba shoe cluster alone reportedly exports close to a million pairs weekly, albeit through unofficial channels.
Stella Chamberlain, SON’s Marketing Head, highlighted that maintaining consistent product quality is essential for sustaining competitiveness in global markets. Similarly, Anthony Eneh, Abia State Coordinator, stated that standardization reduces trade barriers and assures consumers of product safety and reliability.
This initiative reaffirms SON’s dedication to enabling MSMEs to thrive internationally while enhancing Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
