The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged manufacturers to maintain product quality standards to protect consumers, strengthen confidence in Made-in-Nigeria products and improve the competitiveness of the country’s manufacturing sector.
The Director-General and Chief Executive of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, made the call at the 2026 National Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Quality Award Ceremony held in Lagos on Wednesday.
In a statement obtained from SON’s website on Thursday, Okeke spoke as SON marked 20 years of the MANCAP scheme, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2006, to ensure that locally manufactured products complied with relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards.
He said MANCAP was introduced to promote fair competition, protect consumers’ rights to quality products and value for money, and support Nigeria’s economic diversification.
According to him, the scheme has recorded significant growth since its introduction, with certifications and revalidations increasing from 1,930 products produced by 458 companies in its first year to 17,866 products from 8,634 companies.
He described MANCAP as SON’s flagship mandatory product certification scheme for locally manufactured goods, designed to prevent the production and sale of substandard and unsafe products.
“Your achievements demonstrate that quality is not merely a regulatory obligation but a sustained business responsibility that builds trust and creates lasting value,” he said.
The director-general congratulated manufacturers recognised for maintaining their certifications over 10, 15 and 20 years, describing their achievements as evidence of sustained commitment to quality.
He explained that MANCAP certification involved factory inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing, compliance reviews and certification.
According to him, certificates are renewable every three years, while annual surveillance inspections and testing are conducted to ensure continued conformity with established standards.
“Manufacturers must remain committed to standards; regulators must ensure fair and consistent enforcement; and consumers must demand quality and make informed choices,” Okeke said.
He said SON had continued to strengthen the scheme through stakeholder engagement, sensitisation, improved laboratory infrastructure and enhanced measurement capabilities at the National Metrology Institute.
Okeke also highlighted the introduction of a new MANCAP logo in March 2025 to improve consumer recognition and brand visibility.
He said the organisation had expanded the promotion of certified products through its website and Digital Standards Platform, while supporting manufacturers through initiatives such as the SON Export Conformity Assessment Programme (SONEXCAP), the Special Economic Zones Conformity Assessment Programme (SEZCAP) and the Product Identification Scheme (PIS).
The director-general reaffirmed SON’s commitment to strengthening conformity assessment and supporting Nigerian manufacturers to compete confidently in local and international markets.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, called for sustained commitment to quality and conformity across the manufacturing sector.
Isokpunwu said the 20th anniversary of MANCAP represented an important milestone in the development of Nigeria’s quality infrastructure.
He said the scheme had helped strengthen confidence in products manufactured and sold in the Nigerian market through standardisation, certification and conformity assessment.
The permanent secretary noted that consumers needed confidence in the products they purchased, while manufacturers required an environment where quality enhanced their competitiveness.
He stressed that government and regulators also had a responsibility to protect the public while supporting industrial development.
“Every participant in the quality ecosystem has a responsibility to ensure that standards are respected and that the safety and performance of products are not compromised,” he said.