The Nation Newspaper

Tag: certification

  • Govt to shut down Abuja cooperative societies over certification

    All cooperative societies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that have failed to undergo compulsory recertification will be shut down, Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe has warned. Nzekwe gave this warning during a valedictory meeting with management staff of the Secretariat in his office. He also said that if they fail to recertify, it further meant that they do not want to be audited because they have skeletons they want to hide.

    “Some of the cooperative societies have not been audited in the past 10 years. They don’t even know the cooperative laws, so we had to start the recertification process with the aim of identifying the genuine ones, to bring them up to the tenets and regulations of cooperative societies. The process is to also educate them on the dos and don’ts and ensure that their books are kept audited and proper election are carried out when their tenures expire so that members can have a say in who heads the cooperative societies.

    “I am happy to say that the new certificates have been acquired and so, any cooperative society that doesn’t get a recertification certificate will cease to exist as a cooperative society in the FCT. Any cooperative society that fails to do that it means that they do not want to keep by the tenets of the rules and regulations of societies and they have registered themselves by themselves so they are outlaws.” Listing some major achievements under him, Nzekwe disclosed that apart from increasing the number of departments to seven, from four, his organization has created access to over 4000 farmers in the FCT who could henceforth be contacted, using its improved ICT unit.

    According to him, the popular Jabi Lake was last year stocked with large number of different species of fishes, adding that the move was necessary because the lake served as a recreation centre and a calming measure for the environment. He also said it has greatly improved veterinary services, graduated many skilled trainees in fishery, crop production and agricultural extension services, provided them with various assistances as well as liquidated huge debts for the Secretariat

  • FCMB gets ISO certification

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) was yesterday awarded the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate for Quality Management System.

    The bank was presented with the certificate by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), following an audit and evaluation exercise conducted by the Organisation. The exercise covered departments and branches of the lender, nationwide.

    The development is coming on the heels of the renewed strategic focus of FCMB, which has significantly deepened its core values of professionalism, sustainability, customer focus and excellence. Through this process, it was observed the bank had successfully overhauled and streamlined its processes, procedures and systems to meet best global standards.

    The ISO 9001:2015 is the most widely used quality management system globally. It provides a framework that ensures that organizations are able to meet customers’ and other applicable requirements consistently. It consists of policies, processes and procedures required for planning and execution that guarantee continuous improvement and operational efficiency in the core business areas of an organization. This helps to mitigate risks, optimise opportunities and the organisation is able to deliver better products/ services and sustainable excellent stakeholders experience.

    The SON audit of FCMB covered key areas including context of the organisation, leadership, planning, support and operation. Others were performance evaluation and improvement. Following this, SON stated in its report that, it discovered that the bank had put in place and implemented, ‘’good practices, high quality management system awareness and risk/mitigation inbuilt in each process activity’’.

    It added that the lender also ensured, ‘’adequate evaluation of performance monitoring, measurement, reporting and reviewing against key performance objectives, service provision was under control and customer satisfaction monitored and analysed’’.

    Speaking on the award, the Managing Director of FCMB, Adam Nuru, described the laurel as another milestone in the commitment of the Bank to attain excellence in all aspects of operations and service delivery.

    Director General/Chief Executive, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, commended FCMB for distinguishing itself as an organisation committed to a culture of continuous improvement, professionalism and best practices.

  • Chibek Instruments gets ISO 9001 certification 

    An engineering firm, Chibek Instruments Limited, has received the ISO 9001: 2008 international certification for the design, procurement and installation of laboratory furniture, procurement, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of laboratory equipment, including chemicals and reagents.

    The Executive Director, Services, Mrs. Chidimma Ibe, said the certification validates Chibek’s commitment and dedication to improvement and customer satisfaction.

    Ibe said the certification had boosted customers and strategic partners’ confidence in Chibek’s ability to manage its products and service delivery processes to international standards.

    Her words: “This certification has served to strengthen our commitment to ensuring customers’ satisfaction and the delivery of world-class products and services.

    “We look forward to transitioning to the new ISO 9001:2015 standard by the first quarter of 2018”.

  • Abuja airport gets NCAA certification

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the weekend certified the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard.

    The certification for aerodrome operations was last received 10 years ago.

    The airport got the certification following its compliance to safety standards and demonstration it can effectively manage the facility.

    Speaking during the presentation of the certificate, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Muktar Umar, noted the certification process would result in enhanced safety levels, capacity, efficiency and effectiveness in aerodrome facilities and services.

    He also disclosed Nigeria was the only country in the African region to have two of its airport certified within two months.

    He pointed out only 25 percent of international airports in Africa and India Ocean region are certified.

    Umar noted that the certification of international airports as required by the ICAO Annex 14 and Part 12 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations was a global strategy to foster standards and uniformity in the provisions and maintenance of aerodrome and air navigation infrastructures and associated services with aim of enhancing safety and efficiency.

    He pointed out the Nnamdi Azikwe International airport has unique facilities including a totally resurfaced Runway with full compliment of category II precision Approach lighting, runway edge lightening, runway Centerline lights, touchdown z one lights as well as runway thresholds and runway end lights.

    Managing Director FAAN Saleh Dunoma noted plans were underway to also certify Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna airports.

    He noted that they have been sensitising the staffs and managements of the airports to prepare towards the exercise.

     

  • Lagos revokes hotel’s wastewater discharge regulatory certification

    Lagos revokes hotel’s wastewater discharge regulatory certification

    Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) has revoked the water/wastewater discharge regulatory certification of Radisson Blu Hotel on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. In a statement yesterday, LSWRC accused the hotel   of contravening wastewater discharge regulation.

    LSWRCExecutive Secretary Ahmed Kabiru, said the revocation of the certification was necessary because the hotel compromised sewage treatment and disposal law of the state.

    He said: “By the revocation order, the hotel cannot discharge any wastewater into the environment henceforth. A situation where any facility will discharge untreated effluent into the environment is unacceptable. All properties in this category must have proper water and wastewater treatment facilities suitable for their capacity and must also obtain necessary licenses and certification from the commission to ensure they are functioning properly. ‘Dummy facilities’ will no longer be condoned.

    “The management of the hotel has been instructed to immediately suspend all actions that would lead to further discharge of untreated and unsatisfactory wastewater into the public drains/water body with immediate effect pending re-certification and clearance by the Commission.”

    He requested for the development and upgrading of all water and waste water facilities in the hotel under the agency’s supervision.

    The facility, he said, would remain sealed under until the government is satisfied with the hotel’s compliance with the law.

    He restated the government’s commitment to the protection of the state’s water bodies against hazard and environmental nuisance.

  • PZ Cussons gets ISO certification

    PZ Cussons gets ISO certification

    PZ Cussons Nigeria Limited has been presented with a certificate of conformity to the requirements of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001: 2015 Quality Management System (QMS) standard by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    PZ Cussons is the first to be so certified with the new standard by SON. The certification, which is valid for three years, means that products and services from the manufacturing giant consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved.

    At the certificate presentation to the company at its factory in Ikorodu, Lagos, during the week, the Director General (DG) of SON, Mr. Osita Abaloma, said that with the ISO 9001: 2015 QMS certificate, the Ikorodu and Aba factories of PZ Cussons are adjudged to have a system in place to deliver quality products to its customers at all times.

    “By this achievement, the company has joined a privileged class of ISO 9001:2015 QMS certified organisations and a trailblazer for others to follow on the requirements of this new standard, Aboloma declared.

  • SON gets two months mandate on SMEs certification

    SON gets two months mandate on SMEs certification

    The Federal Government has mandated the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to galvanise the standardisation of all Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.  This will include the process of certifying locally-made products and ensuring they meet established standards and competitive quality for exports by removing hurdles on their resolve to get certification for their products.

    SON’s Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma stated this in Lagos at a management retreat with a theme “Repositioning the Standards Organisation of Nigeria for optimal performance in a diversified economy.”

    Aboloma confirmed the receipt of the mandate from the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. He said Osinbajo directed that SON should through their mandate ease the hurdles for business. He said SON is poised to bring its competencies and expertise in the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) with measures to drive the economy. He pledged to reposition SMEs to be in the front burner in efforts to ensure effective implementation of the NIRP.

    The SON chief further said they would reposition standardization and quality assurance activities with a view to creating the enabling environment for investments and production of goods and services in the country to improve the ease of doing business and encourage exports.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah said the current economic downturn necessitates the development of various initiatives by various arms of government, which include the recovery and growth plan by the ministry to resuscitate collapsed industries.

    He said the ministry is also poised to boosting trade, attracting responsible foreign direct investments, to reinvigorate Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and enhance patronage for locally manufactured goods.

    He urged SON to reinvigorate her strategies in the fight against the influx and distribution of substandard products as part of measures to protect the local industries from unfair competition and reposition them for export trade to earn the most desired foreign exchange and check recession.

    Enelamah said: “The global collapse of commodity prices undoubtedly provides a golden opportunity for Nigeria to develop its endowed domestic capacity in terms of production and consumption. The implication of this is the increased demand for your organisation services nationwide. Your participation in the ongoing MSME clinic surely provides you the feel of Nigerians and the work that lies ahead in furtherance of the Ease of Doing Business Initiative.”

  • Tiger Shipping gets ISO 9001-2008 certification

    Tiger Shipping Agencies Limited has announced its certification by the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

    It is an IMO (International Maritime Organisation) listed company certified for maintaining a Quality Management System in Logistics and Maritime services.

    In a statement by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company,  Oyewole Oyewumi at the weekend in Lagos, “the certification is the result of a detailed audit conducted on the management system of the company.”

    The audit report attested that the company’s system clearly fulfils the requirement for the standard ISO 9001-2008 certification, he added.

    According to him, “With this, Tiger Shipping has become a proud recipient of the highly prized INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION NETWORK CERTIFICATE, placing her in the league of the highly rated professional maritime service providers worldwide.”

    “We are by this certification renewing our commitment to the delivery of reliable and efficient services to our valued clients as we look to the future, Oyewunmi said.

  • Firm gets global certification

    Artec Practice Ltd, a firm of professional architects and project managers, has received a global ISO 9001:2008 certification.

    Presenting the certificates to Artec in Abuja, Mr. Lawrence Ogudu, representative of Messrs DQS, the Germany certifying organisation with more than 80 offices worldwide, said the certification confirmed the strict alignment of Artec’s operations with global best practices.

    Ogudu, who presented the certificates at the firm’s end-of-year dinner, praised its determination and ability to achieve the global feat, despite the tedious professional processes involved.

    He said with the certification, Artec’s operations were now subject to periodic scrutiny as a global player to ensure compliance with and sustenance of the required global professional standards.

    In his reaction,  Artec’s Managing Principal Taofik Popoola hailed the certification.

    “Our primary motivation   in addition to  providing value-added services is to build a structure as most companies that are ‘built to last’ and emphasise  a ‘structure’ rather than individuals.

    ‘’Having gone through this process with time, people and financial commitment, it has been a rewarding experience for us at Artec, he said.”

  • CIBN, RIMAN float certification scheme

    The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has entered into strategic partnership with the Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) to run a joint certification programme in risk management.

    The agreement, signed in Lagos, will enable both parties award certificate to qualified risk managers after undergoing requisite examinations.

    CIBN President, Mrs. ‘Debola Osibogun, said with the pact, both institutions have the authority to certify risk managers to promote efficiency and professionalism in the profession.  She expressed worry over capacity deficiency in risk management in the country, adding that the partnership would address the challenge. The executive council of both organisations has approved a robust certification document and curriculum for this professional exam, she added.

    RIMAN President, Jude Monye praised CIBN for the efficiency it has brought to the financial services sector, adding that all the needed processes has been met for full takeoff of the project. “It is good to come on board when everything is ready,” he said.

    He said the CIBN has made  arrangement and tidied up process to ensure that the exercise is a success. He said the agreement will lead to the emergence of better qualified risk managers in the country, which will also be of immense benefits to the economy.

    He said the certified risk management programme will enable RIMAN provide a credible and standard platform for certification of risk management; provide continuing professional education for risk professionals and strengthen the practice of risk management through enhanced risk knowledge and skills across the industry.

    “The exercise would help develop sound and competent risk managers who are globally competitive and nationally relevant,” he said.

    He said certification documents have been developed to include the Risk Management Certification documents and the students guide.

    He said:  “The Certified Risk Management (CRM)  document deals with the goals and objectives, training needs assessment, the structure of the programme, risk competency levels, curriculum development, affiliation, training governance and administration, funding and pricing and training universe.

    “While the programme is designed to confer identical knowledge capacity as other world class risk certification examinations, it also harmonises its scope with the Nigeria/domestic risk environment, hence creating not only certified risk managers but subject matter experts in the area of Nigeria Country Risk Management.”