The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has emphasised the critical role of standardisation in ensuring quality and safety in the global economy.

The director-general of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said this at a walk organised by the organisation to commemorate World Standards Day, on Saturday in Abuja.

The theme of the World Standards Day is “Our Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for Changing the Climate”.

Mr Okeke said that the event was aimed at raising awareness about the impact of standards on industrialisation and economic growth.

According to the director-general, standards are the bedrock for industrialisation.

“We are creating awareness on the importance of standardisation in the global economy and for industrialisation.

“We want the world to know that standard is very important. It is the bedrock of what we do because all we do takes its root from standardisation,” he said.

He reiterated the ongoing efforts of the national technical committee members, industry practitioners, and regulators in shaping effective standards across Nigeria and beyond.

“Standardisation is not merely a technical necessity, it is the key to unlocking economic potentials.

“Everything we do at SON, from regulation to certification and conformity assessment, is rooted in the principles of standardisation,” Mr Okeke said.

He urged the attendees to spread the message that standardisation was essential for local industries, and also for international trade and cooperation.

He also called on all stakeholders to prioritise the implementation of standards in their respective fields for national development.

Also speaking, SON’s director of standards fevelopment, Ahmed Bukar, said that the theme of the celebration focused on the “Shared Vision for a Better World”.

“The theme specifically addresses Sustainable Development Goals – 9 (SDGs-9), which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

“It restates the need to tackle global challenges such as poverty, education, and the absence of peace.

“The goal is to utilise standards to foster collaboration and innovation, particularly through the responsible application of artificial intelligence in various sectors,” he said.

While recognising the various stakeholders present at the walk, Mr Bukar reiterated the importance of collaboration as key yo achieving greater heights.

 (NAN)