By Felix Khanoba
Mallam Farouk Salim has taken the baton of leadership from Barr. Osita Aboloma as Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
Salim, who assumed office on Monday in a short ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja, promised a new dawn that will usher an enabling environment for innovations that will stimulate national self-sufficiency.
A statement by the spokesman of SON, Mr Bola Fashina, said Salim also promised to enhance the role of standards in local manufacturing, import and export of products.
While assuring of his readiness to bring his core competencies to bear in organisational restructuring, quality assurance and project management in the organisation, the new DG stressed his desire to strengthen enforcement through increased cooperation with the relevant authorities like the Police and the judiciary.
Speaking further, the SON boss said he would work more closely with the National Assembly and the executive arm of government to update regulations and penalties as well as lobby for improved budgetary allocations for needed improvements and staff welfare.
“We would also leverage on information and communication technology to disseminate our activities more efficiently, real time, in order to engender greater stakeholders’ buy-in and revamp public confidence in our organization”, he added.
Salim expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to further contribute to national development through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, stressing that he would put in his best to justify the confidence of the number one citizen.
He also expressed appreciation to his predecessor for his selfless services to SON in the last four years and wished him well in his future endeavours.
On his part, Osita Aboloma said he was bequeathing to him, a crop of highly competent staff in virtually all fields of standardisation, who according to him, compare favourably with their counterparts in the developed economies of the world.
Aboloma stated that the last four years have brought forward greater relevance of the SON mandate to the general socio-economic development of the Nigerian nation more than ever before.
The event which was witnessed by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, saw the presentation of a letter of commendation and appreciation to Aboloma for his selfless and dedicated services to the nation through SON.
