SON develops operational framework for devt of Nigeria’s halal industry

By Miriam Humbe, Abuja

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim said that the Organisation was committed to continually drive initiatives that promoted the development of Halal Products Standards in line with internationally accepted Standards for both domestic and foreign consumers.

A statement signed on Saturday by SON’s Director, Public Relations, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji said that the Director General said 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 Director General emphasized the crucial role of Standardisation to achieve the set goal.

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Mallam Salim said that he further analysed the steps taken by SON to ensure that globally accepted Standards were developed or adopted for the Nigerian Halal Industry and to also ensure that products and services met the right specifications as well as deliver on consumers’ expectation, to allow for access and acceptance in international markets.

The SON boss said that the Organisation had 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 again said that the Organisation in keeping to plan, had established a Training Center in Kano where all trainings on Halal Certifications had already taken effect so as to have Nigerian businesses and Industries partake in the Halal Sector.

Minister of State of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, who was the Keynote Speaker, applauded the committee on the strides achieved thus far.

Katagum said that the kick off the Industry would be a useful tool in the Ministry’s mandate of facilitating trade and growing the Nigerian industrial sector.

She therefore, assured of the Ministry’s continuous support.

Participants included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI); Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); Nigeria National Accreditation System (NINAS); National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN); other SON officials among others.