Chairman, NQC Osita Aboloma (3rd from left) with the FCDO/BSI Team, led by Allan Chale (First right) and other NQC, FCDO/BSI Officials during a visit to NQC on the 2nd leg of the Standards Partnership programme.
By Felix Khanoba
The National Quality Council (NQC) is harnessing partnerships with various stakeholders to commence the implementation of the Nigerian National Quality Policy (NNQP), according to its Chairman and CEO, Mr. Osita Aboloma.
Aboloma highlighted that these collaborations are vital for addressing quality-related issues, promoting non-oil exports, reducing export rejections, and maximizing benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. Key partners include the African Union Commission/Pan African Quality Infrastructure, the UK High Commission in Abuja, and the British Standards Institute, among others.
The NQC chaired the Local Organising Committee for the African Cassava Conference (ACC) in Nigeria, aiming to engage government agencies, private sector players in agriculture, development partners, research institutions, and the media.
This initiative sought to bolster participation, enhance the cassava value chain, and increase foreign exchange earnings.
The ACC, which Aboloma described as a success, enabled Nigeria to connect with stakeholders in cassava production from across Africa. It also provided a platform for policy review and the exchange of research ideas to further develop the cassava value chain continent-wide.
Group photograph of NQC and NABG during the latter’s collaborative visit to the former. with Osita Aboloma, Chairman/CE, NQC (centre). To his right are, DG, NABG Jafar Abubakar and Maximus Ndianaefo also of NABG. To his right are Celestine Okanya, DG, Nigerian National Accreditation System (NiNAS) and Bola Fashina of NQC.
In the UK-funded Standards Partnership Programme, NQC serves as the focal point, working with agencies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC. This programme aims to make the Quality Infrastructure (QI) more efficient through stakeholder sensitization, developing a NNQP implementation strategy, launching a communications strategy, and providing professional training and technical support.
Completed initiatives under this programme include workshops for public and private sector stakeholders in Abuja and Lagos, with the next phase starting in July 2024.
On collaboration with the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG), Aboloma described a sector-specific Round Table discussion focusing on the agricultural sector, scheduled for July 16, 2024, in Abuja. More such engagements are planned.
The NNQP aims to guide the development of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI), covering standards harmonization, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment services.
Aboloma emphasised the NQC’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products and services, fostering rapid economic growth.
