The Nation Newspaper

Tag: certified

  • ‘How to get more certified agriculture products exported to EU’

    Executive Secretary/CEO, Institute of Export Operation and Management (IEOM), Mr. Ofonasaha Udofia,  has said improving food safety  standards would  ease the flow of agricultural products to Europe.

    Udofia  said the European Union( EU) has set stringent certification standards, but producers of Nigerian agricultural products should  be trained to  meet them.

    According to him, as Nigerian producers are successfully meeting the EU’s import standards, the import of Nigerian agricultural produce will be increasing.

    He explained that such produce will be well received by Europe’s large supermarkets as they would meet the international certification on good agricultural practices, Global GAP, while having an advantage in terms of quality.

    He said Nigerian  produce  have  big markets in the EU, including cocoa, cashew, palm oil and its derivatives, nutmeg and other agricultural commodities.

    According to him, Nigeria agriculture exports to the EU lag behind those of fellow African countries such as Kenya and Ghana because they   provided products with higher sanitary and phyto sanitary (SPS) standards and other international requirements.

  • Weststar produces first Nigerian globally certified trainer

    Weststar produces first Nigerian globally certified trainer

    The Training Manager, Weststar Associates Limited, Mr Abdul Ligali, has received a certificate of excellence in global training from Daimler AG Global Training Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. He is the first Nigerian to be certified as a Mercedes-Benz global trainer by Daimler.

    According to Weststar Managing Director Mr Mirko Plath, the recognition will pave way for the expansion of a certified global training centre for Weststar in Nigeria.

    Since inception, Weststar has organised technical and non-technical training for staff, dealers, and customers to expand the knowledge base of employees and meet the various needs of customers.

    In 2014, Weststar set-up an in-house training department. So far, over 300 participants, trained in various aspects of auto business, have graduated from the department.

    A global trainer handled  the programme.

    Ligali said the achievement was a step in the right direction, as it will reduce dependency on only foreign trainers.

    He said: “This is a welcome development for Weststar; there will be a reduced dependency on foreign trainers. In the future, we hope to expand our training center for the brands we represent that will be open to the public and not just our staff, dealerships or customers. There would even be dual vocational courses for interested individuals. Our vision is to become the training hub for West Africa. I also plan to train and mentor other global training aspirants locally as well.

    “I am the global trainer for non-technical aspects such as service and processing. We hope to develop more global trainers in both technical and non-technical areas. This will provide multiple job opportunities for Nigerians and also contribute positively to the educational sector by encouraging the youths to take up various technical careers.”

  • ‘Our phones are certified by NCC, others’

    ‘Our phones are certified by NCC, others’

    French phone brand, Wiko Mobile, said its range of 11 mobile phones launched in the Nigerian market are certified not only by the Nigerian Communications Communication Commission (NCC) but also by international regulators.

    The firm said it obtained “Type Approval” for the various ranges of phones to operate as terminal equipment in the Nigerian telecoms network.

    Wiko said NCC’s Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Engr. Haru Alhassan, signed the approvals on behalf of the NCC executive vice chairman since September last year ahead of the formal introduction of the phones into the Nigerian market.

    Wiko products approved by NCC include Highway, Highways-Signs, Bloom, Rainbow, Lenny, Goa and Sunset. Others are Riff, Luib3, Kar3 and Fizz.

    Its Channel Marketing Manager, Mr Adebayo Abodunde Adams, said in a statement that Wiko is proud of its quality standards as attested to by Nigerian and global bodies, contrary to a mistaken report in a national daily alleging non-accreditation of Wiko phones by NCC.

    He said: “Quality and style have been the basis for the wide and rapid acceptance of Wiko phone range in both the Nigerian and other markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa. We at Wiko are conscious of our heritage and comply with regulatory standards as well as corporate governance codes in our operations.”

    All Wiko phones have the CE marking.

  • Fed Govt sets aside N922m for certified wheat seeds

    The Federal Government said it has approved N922m to mop up 7,000 metric tonnes of breeders foundation and certified wheat seeds in order to expand the wheat value chain in the country.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this in Kaduna yesterday.

    The Minister who was represented by the Northwest Regional Director of the ministry, Dr. Nyam Y. Leo at a press conference in Kaduna  said the Federal Government was embarking on an awareness campaign to encourage wheat production in the country.

    According to him, the programme which started in 2012 saw wheat farmers in the country planting grains not certified nor hybrid wheat seeds which led to decline in productivity.

    He said: “The Minister was in Kebbi and Zamfara states recently and revealed to the whole world potential of Nigeria’s wheat production especially in Baklori Irrigation Site.

    “In view of this, I have already approved N922million to mop up 7,000 metric tones of breeders foundation and certified wheat seeds for the envisaged expansions in the wheat value chain.”

    Dr. Adesina who said the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), is a tool by the Federal Government to improve agricultural production which will lead to continuity, consistency, commitment and value chain.

    He said: “We’re repositioning the ministry to reduce dependence on food imports, increase crop yield, enhance incomes for farmers, reduce poverty, increase foreign exchange, enhance food security and ensure national security.”

    The approach mapped out by the ministry to achieve these goals according to Dr. Adesina, include decentralisation of power to states and regions, farmers registration and data base, input supply, value added industries, attract foreign and private sector involvement and partition for sustainability.

    Dr. Adesina also expressed delight that all the states in the country except one, have keyed into ATA and this step according to him, will make the country to emerge as a major exporter of wheat in the near future.