Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged consumers to check product certification marks before purchasing goods to avoid counterfeit and substandard products.
The organisation also announced that it had published a list of locally manufactured products certified under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) on its official website to help Nigerians identify and verify approved goods.
SON Director-General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, disclosed this on Friday during the ongoing Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND 2026) at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, in Iganmu, Lagos.
Okeke, who led a delegation of SON officials to the exhibition, said making the certification list available online would enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions while encouraging manufacturers to comply with established quality standards.
“This development will help consumers find and buy quality products easily. It puts the power of choice in the hands of the Nigerian consumer, and it rewards manufacturers who have done the right thing by meeting our standards,” he said.
He advised Nigerians to visit the SON website to verify certified products and report goods displaying fake or questionable certification marks.
The SON chief explained that the organisation’s participation in the exhibition was aimed at educating manufacturers, small business owners and consumers about product quality assurance and certification requirements.
“Our presence here is about meeting businesses where they are. Many creative and small enterprises have excellent products but do not know how to get them certified. Certification opens doors to bigger markets, here at home and across Africa, and it protects the consumer,” he said.
At the exhibition, SON officials engaged manufacturers and visitors on product certification under the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS), explaining the requirements for obtaining approval.
They also provided information on MANCAP, which covers locally manufactured products, and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), which applies to imported goods.
Small and medium-sized enterprises received guidance on certification procedures, including applications, product testing and approval, while consumers were educated on identifying counterfeit goods, verifying SON authentication marks and reporting suspicious products.
Okeke said the organisation’s awareness campaign aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to promote local manufacturing under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He stressed that Nigerian-made products must meet international quality standards to compete effectively in domestic and international markets under the Nigeria First policy.
SON said its participation in CANEX WKND 2026 formed part of broader efforts to strengthen local manufacturing, promote compliance with quality standards and protect Nigerian consumers from counterfeit and substandard products.
