The Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has said that SON will continue to catalyze economic and industrial development of the South-East zone.
Okeke said this to stakeholders on Friday in Enugu during the South-East Regional Edition of the Walk for Standards in commemoration of the 2026 World Standards Day.
NewsBits reports that the World Standards Day is celebrated annually on October 14 to honour experts worldwide who develop the technical agreements and International Standards that underpin modern life and recognize their immense contributions.
The commemoration was themed: “Shared Vision for a Better World: Spotlight on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)”. Represented by the Director, South-East Regional Operations of SON, Mr. Chukwuma Aharanwa, the director-general noted the vibrant spirit of enterprise, resilience and innovation that defines Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
He said this had long demonstrated the people’s unmatched ingenuity in manufacturing, commerce and technical craftsmanship, which SON had continued to intensify efforts to promote and scale up for national development. “Today, we walk in major roads of Enugu not merely to exercise our bodies, but to march in solidarity for quality, safety and sustainable development,” according to him.
The director-general said that this year’s theme underscored the indispensable role of standards in achieving affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. “Standards provide the technical foundation for safe, efficient and interoperable energy systems — from solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines to energy-efficient appliances, battery storage and smart metering.
“In Nigeria, the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) supply the precise technical blueprints required to harness renewable energy, improve efficiency, and eliminate substandard products that threaten public safety and undermine our climate goals.
“By aligning national standards with international best practice, SON helps ensure that every solar installation, every inverter, and every electrical appliance contributes to a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” he said.
Okeke noted that the core mandate of the agency, under the SON Act No. 14 of 2015, is to promote standardisation, ensure quality assurance, and strengthen Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure.
He said that the key schemes of SON include: Mandatory Conformity Assessment (MANCAP), which ensures all locally manufactured products comply with Nigerian Industrial Standards. “SONCAP and Product Certification, which entails border verification and safeguarding the nation from substandard and hazardous electrical, mechanical, and energy-related products.
‘SON Laboratories: State-of-the-art testing equipment; protecting consumers from exploding batteries, inefficient solar installations and electrical hazards. “National Metrology Institute (Enugu): Which houses Accredited measurement science, anchoring fair trade, precise energy metering and industrial quality,” he added.
The walk, which lasted over two hours on roads in Enugu metropolis, had captains of Industry, members of the organised private sector including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Heads of security, and government agencies in attendance.
