SON’s New DG Vow to Boost Export

Ifeanyi Okeke, the recently appointed Director General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, has unveiled strategies to encourage the sale of locally produced goods and increase exports.

After being appointed by President Bola Tinubu, Okeke took over as the new leader last week, replacing Mallam Farouk Salim.

In a Friday statement that The PUNCH was able to obtain, Okeke reaffirmed his dedication to promoting the creation of jobs, the eradication of poverty, and boosting trust in the export industry.

He intends to make it simpler for small and medium-sized businesses to access cutting-edge laboratories, allowing them to improve product quality and compete on a global scale.

 “I have received the baton of stewardship today; my immediate priority will be to review the handover notes quickly to achieve our objectives timely,” Okeke stated.

He thanked President Tinubu for the appointment, conveyed his thanks, and promised to diversify the country’s economy by ensuring that commodities produced domestically satisfy international standards.

Recognizing the work of Farouk Salim, his predecessor, Okeke stressed the continuation of honorable endeavors.

Although he acknowledged that governance is a continuum, he committed to carrying out the commendable initiatives that are now underway to support the President’s agenda for a domestic economy and boost the competitiveness of Nigerian goods on both the domestic and global markets.

 “Stakeholder engagements shall form critical pillars of my administration while encouraging the micro, small, and medium scale enterprises, as they are the engine drivers of the nation’s economy and growth.

“We are going to encourage the industry operators to take the issue of product testing as a very key element to productivity and economic growth,” he assured.

In order to safeguard the country from inferior goods and encourage the expansion of enterprises, he underlined the significance of product testing.

He pointed out that getting rid of inferior items will boost capacity utilization and create more job chances for young people.

 “I remain ever grateful for this opportunity while soliciting the support of all in this important mandate,” Okeke affirmed.