By: Newscount
Nigeria has taken a significant step towards enhancing its export capacity, particularly for cowpea and sesame seeds. The Director General/Chief Executive of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, recently witnessed the submission of the final draft of the Baseline Study on Nigeria’s Cowpea and Sesame Seed Value Chains.
This study, submitted by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and sponsored by the International Trade Centre, Geneva, Switzerland, aims to help Nigeria comply with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements. The SON, as the National Standards Agency, plays a crucial role in establishing standards for products and conformity assessment procedures.
The organisation participates in the programme as a key stakeholder involved in SPS implementation in Nigeria. The event, which marked the submission of the study, was declared open by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI). Dignitaries in attendance included the Executive Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Head of the Nigeria Trade Office in Geneva, and other prominent stakeholders.
In his speech, the DG/CE (SON) promised the full support of SON to ensure the success of the harmonization of SPS requirements. This harmonization will facilitate the removal of impediments to the export of Nigerian cowpea and sesame seeds, ultimately boosting the country’s export prospects.
