Nigerian celebrates 2021 world standards day
By Atiba Moyinoluwa
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has announced that Nigeria joined the global celebration of World Standards Day and discusses Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Thursday in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement made available to the press by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Bola Fashina.
According to the statement, theme of the 2021 celebration is “Standards for Sustainable Development Goals – Our shared Vision for a better World”.
The theme was coordinated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
To mark the celebration, the Director-General of Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, spoke about the objectives of the SDGs and how they are highly ambitious but attainable.
He noted that public and private partners should corporately use available tools to attain the sustainable development goals aimed at addressing social imbalance, develop a sustainable economy, and slow the rate of climate change.
Mallam Salim buttressed the joint message of the international standardization bodies saying, “The intense battle against a persistent global pandemic revealed the absolute necessity of addressing the SDGs in an inclusive way, to strengthen our societies, making them more resilient and more equitable”.
His called on stakeholders around the country to join the three international standardization bodies, IEC, ISO, ITU and SON to affirm the importance of the seventeen SDGs.
Salim noted that the organization has been working with relevant stakeholders and providing training for organizations and individuals in the last fifty years.
He pointed out that this attainment helps meeting up with the objectives of the SDGs in Nigeria.
The DG disclosed that his organization would undertake roadshows in Lagos and Abuja as well as conduct sensitization workshops for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to promote the 2021 World Standards Day within the month of October.
Urging Nigerians to support SON, he said “It is for the benefit of the Nation and its people by engaging in standardization activities, providing information on suspected substandard products, and demanding quality at all times in purchase decisions.”
The SON Chief Executive further stated that the entire standards system is built on collaboration and cooperation.
He concluded thus, “We stand united to work together to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, with standards for the SDGs, and our shared vision for a better world”.
