The Standard Organisation of Nigeria SON, has expressed commitment to boost Halal products and take it to international standards.
The Director General/Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, said the Organisation under his watch will continually drive initiatives, that will promote the development of the poducts ofthe Halal industry in line with internationally accepted Standards, for both domestic and foreign consumers.
In a statement recently, SON’s Director of Public Relations, Mrs Foluso Bolaji, said the organisation’s DG stated this at the Validation Meeting of the Final Draft Report on the Roadmap and Operational Framework for the Development of Halal Industry in Nigeria, which held recently in Abuja.
Represented by the Head, Halal Desk; Mrs Amina Haliru, the DG stressd the crucial role of Standardisation to achieve the set goal. He further, analyzed the steps taken by SON, to ensure that globally accepted Standards, are developed, or adopted for the Nigerian Halal Industry, and to also ensure that products, and services meet the right specifications, as well as deliver on consumers’ expectation, which according to him, will allow for access, and acceptance, in international markets.
According to the CEO the organisation has constituted a team to interface with relevant agencies and stakeholders to develop an operational framework for the kick – off, of the Halal industry in Nigeria.
He explained that the roadmap and milestones outlined by the committee to get a functioning Halal industry in Nigeria, will open Nigeria to the world with the ripple effect being a boost for the Nigerian economy considering the fact that the Halal Global Market is valued at trillions of dollars.
Salim further stated that the Organisation, in keeping to plan, has established a Training Center in Kano, where all trainings on Halal Certifications has already taken effect so as to have Nigerian businesses and Industries partake in the Halal Sector.
The keynote speaker, and minister of State for Industry, Trade and invesyment Ambassador Maryam Katagum, applauded the committee on the strides achieved thus far. She noted that the kick off of the Industry would be a useful tool in the Ministry’s mandate of facilitating trade and growing the Nigerian industrial sector and assured of the Ministry’s continuous support.
