FG Urged To Adopt National Quality Policy To Enhance Good Health Of Nigerians

The federal government has been challenged to urgently ratify and adopt the National Quality Policy so as for Nigeria and Nigerians product to enjoy international acceptability and good health.

This was part of the resolution of a three day Media capacity building for sustainability of the EU Funded UNIDO National Quality Infrastructure Project in Nigeria held in Lagos.

In the communiqué issued after the training, it urged the federal government to make adequate provision to take full ownership of the National Quality Infrastructure Project as the sponsored program which started in 2014 is expected to end in July 2018.

The communiqué said there should be an annual National Standards Summit where international and local stakeholders deliberate on standards and quality in Nigeria.

It emphasised that Food safety measures should be reinforced by manufacturers, regulators, and policy makers in line with global best practices noting that public institutions should be more alive to their responsibilities in promoting standards for locally produced goods.

It said there should be collaboration between regulatory agencies for quality control in Nigeria as this will allow information flow for media visibility for enhanced awareness creation across the various stakeholder groupings. 

The workshop was organized by UNIDO-NQIP as a knowledge development and sustenance program for media Professionals in Nigeria aimed at broadening their knowledge on quality infrastructure in Nigeria and sustainability of post project quality culture.

Full Text Of The Communiqué

COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF A THREE DAY MEDIA CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE EU-FUNDED UNIDO NATIONAL QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (NQIP) IN NIGERIA (MARCH 5-7 2018) AT PROTEA HOTEL LAGOS

INTRODUCTION

The workshop was organized by UNIDO-NQIP as a knowledge development and sustenance program for the media in Nigeria.It was aimed at broadening Journalists knowledge on quality infrastructure in Nigeria and sustainability of post project quality culture. It brought together journalists from online, print, broadcast,Wire Service and Public Relations practitioners across the country.

UNIDO-NQIP experts enlightened the participants during the 3-day training with the theme:

“Evolving Quality Culture for Media Professionals within the context of quality in Nigeria trade and industry sector” on National Quality Infrastructure, quality management system, food safety and International certification Standards (ISO).

Highlights of the training:-

• Good governance and introduction to quality infrastructure.
• The role of UNIDO in Nigeria’s capacity to trade beyond OIL.
• Accreditation and conformity assessment/National Quality infrastructure Project.
• Conduit of Excellence
• A field visit to Rhabe Nigeria Ventures in Ikeja, Lagos.
• Syndicate session on market failure (Group work)
• Simulation/presentation of syndicate session output
• Introduction to quality Infrastructure and Principles, benefits and meaning of quality management systems, implementation and training centres with emphasis on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000.
• At the end of the three day training, participants learnt what accreditation and conformity assessment as well as its relevance to national development. They also learnt the status in Nigeria and the need to change the status quo to conform with global best practices.
• Participants learnt the impact of the NQIP on improving standards in Nigeria.It also exposed participants to Nigeria National Accreditation Service (NiNAS) and its relevance to standardization.
• Participants also learnt that ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system. It is used by organizations to provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• ISO 14001 is a standard that sets out requirements for environmental management systems and used to control resources as well as waste reduction.
• ISO 22000 on the other hand deals with food safety management system and adherence to standards.It is targeted at all organizations in the whole food value chain.
• Participants also learnt that training centres offer a range of certified courses on quality, auditing at different levels, improve standards, the economy and create job opportunities.

CONCLUSION

Nigeria is currently losing revenue; if the concerns of quality infrastructure are addressed there will be a turn around and a boost will be attained in revenue generation from export.  From a larger picture, the diversification policy of the federal government would have been achieved. The challenge of Nigeria export rejection will be surmounted thus attaining the status of a healthy and export compliant/friendly country among the comity of nations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Nigeria should urgently ratify and adopt the National Quality Policy.

–        The Nigerian government should make adequate provision to take full ownership of the National Quality Infrastructure Project.

–        There should be an annual National Standards Summit where international and local stakeholders deliberate on standards and quality in Nigeria.

–        Food safety measures should be reinforced by manufacturers, regulators and policy makers in line with global best practices.

–        Public institutions should be more alive to their responsibilities in promoting standards for locally produced goods.

–        Advocate regular capacity building for Reporters on standards;more Editors and media owners should be engaged.

–        There should be collaboration between the regulatory agencies for quality control in Nigeria.This will allow information flow for media visibility for enhanced awareness creation across the various stakeholder groupings.

–        Relevant public institutions should be strengthened in the fight against smuggling of substandard goods in the country.

–        Enforcement of laws for violators of standards.

MEDIA ACTION PLANS

• Report extensively on quality infrastructure
• Create public awareness on standards
• Highlight challenges associated with the NQIP implementation to prevent such occurrences going forward.
• Help make the project a greater success
• Be thorough in reporting quality infrastructure, ensure the reportage is balanced
• Follow up on leads, don’t give up on developing stories related to quality infrastructure
• Generate exclusive story ideas, investigative thesis, Editorials, opinion, special reports, talk shows, jingles, documentaries, translations etc.