The Nation Newspaper

Tag: quality

  • SON educates youths on standardisation, quality policy

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has spread its net to inculcate standardisation and quality in the youth and children.

    Its Director-General Osita Anthony Aboloma said in line with the “World’s Standards Day” with the theme: “Standards Build Trust,” the agency was promoting awareness on standards among children and the youth as agents of change.

    He spoke in his Lagos office when he hosted some children from schools in Lagos, who made presentations on standardisation and the need to ensure quality of products  and services.

    Aboloma, who was represented by Mrs. Cynthia Ifeagwu, said standards should guide Nigerians in businesses, schools and daily live, noting that if the rudiments of standards and quality are imbibed at a young age, children and youths could identify substandard goods.

    He said: “Good habit if learnt at a young age, there is a  possibility that a youngster will grow living his life insisting on quality and standard product and services through one’s life time. Children interface with different types of food and also are in a position to drive quality standards by engaging their parents to buy goods and services with SON standards mark of quality”.

    In its presentation, Chrisland School, led by Miss Mmesoma Okonkwo, defined her understanding of what standards are and its role in economic growth. She also stated that compliance to standards could  encourage sustainable economic growth.

    Miss Oyindamola Samuel, from Agape Bundle School, said compliance to standards could make people entrust their lives to particular products. She said no product could  claim to have quality and standards except it is approved by SON.

    She encouraged the public to insist on products with SON quality mark, stressing that the mark of quality helps organisations create wealth, build trust and stand-out in the pack.

    Aboloma  educated the students on the need to get their parents to patronise quality and safe products. This, he stressed, will safeguard the them from the effects of unsafe products.

    Aboloma said his agency’s mandate was to educate the public on the dangers of substandard products in school, and to build a nation whose economy is sustainable.

    He further stated that the mandate included safeguarding people’s lives and property from the impacts of substandard products through consumer education.

    SON has recorded successes in several sectors of the economy through the SONCAP and MANCAP, which are mandatory regulatory programmes for imported and locally manufactured goods.

  • Quality education: The way out?

    Sir: The problem of education in Nigeria is huge. It’s massive. Firstly, we must take matter into our own hands. Do not fool yourself into believing that we’re moving forward when we are only keeping up with general trends, while the real opportunities are slipping away. The step needed is to change our schools’ curricula because they do not focus explicitly on developing the creativity and skills of our students. Our educational system kills student creativity. We need to develop curriculum that support the development of the gifts and natural endowment of our students to the maximum level. Also, vocational and technical education should be made compulsory for every student. In countries like Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, etc. before any student progress into having a tertiary education, they must undergo the process of vocational/technical skill training. This will help our nation. When we have nation loaded with economically empowered people, we produce massive wealth. Africa needs skilled knowledge workers and not certified illiterates.

    Secondly, we need to focus on technologically-driven education that helps students provide innovative solutions to various social problems. Any education that undermines your ability to create, and innovate is a non-sense and useless one. Great nations are product of innovative ideas. Technology is a level tool for productivity and economic growth. In this age of technological revolution where information travels faster than the speed of thought, ideas can travel at the same speed. Speed is necessary because the fastest overtakes the biggest.

    Thirdly, according to statistics, Nigeria has over 10.5 million out of school children. In combination, this number is more than the total population of Togo and Botswana combined with over 9.24 million people. This shows that Nigeria has over 47% of the world population of out of school children. Education needs financing. I mean massive financing. UNESCO advocate that to attain the level of quality education found in other developed climes of the world, we should devote over 24-25% of our budget to education. This is the way out.

     

    • Oluwatosin Philip Oguntunde,

    oluwatosinoguntunde@gmail.com

  • Viju harps on quality

    Viju Industries Nigeria Limited has reiterated the importance of quality in the industry.

    In a statement, its Marketing Manager, Chief Suleiman Aliu, said it is because the firm does not play with the quality of its products that it has invested heavily in their manufacturing.

    He said since the firm was established in 2005, beside its internal control to ensure quality,  it receives regularly officials of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), with a visit as recent as July 4, who attest to the quality of its goods.

    He said: “As the pioneer in milk production in this part of the world, ‘the healthy family’s choice’  have lived up to the expectation as it has maintained standard in production, quality and service delivery.’

    ‘’Viju Milk has been adjudged as the most favourite milk drink, liked by children and the youth. This is so because we have and will never trade our quality for nothing. So quality is our language as most company producing milk drink today in Nigeria took after us.’’

    As result of its emphasis on quality, the firm has won some awards both in the country and abroad. He listed these as the City People quality products award in 2009, 2010, Fortune and class milk drink award in 2008 and the Hod Award in Ghana.

    To serve its consumers better, he said the firm built a big factory in Igbesa, Ogun State, and opened a warhouse in Onitsha as well as depots in Cameroon, Ghana and Togo, among others.

    Aliu said despite raw materials challenges and the unfriendly economic environment, the firm remain committed to quality, capital development and standard.

  • Expert canvasses use of quality materials in construction

    Expert canvasses use of quality materials in construction

    The Chief Operating Officer, Admiralty Homes Limited, Mr. Olaiwola Salami, has urged  Nigerians to use quality materials during construction.

    In an interview in Lagos, he harped on the need to patronise Nigerians who sell these materials to boost their business, adding that given the terrain and topography of some parts of the country, especially coastal areas, the use of substandard construction materials would lead to disaster.

    He noted that the rains affect residents, especially in Lekki and Ajah axis of Lagos State, where some buildings collapsed due to low quality materials used in construction.

    Salami urged Nigerians to patronise efficient property development firms who can deliver buildings that will stand the test of time.

    He cited  his firm as an indigenous outfit where quality materials are sold. “At Admiralty Homes, we are dedicated to providing our customers world-class buildings that will guarantee them rest of mind for decades to come. We use the best quality construction materials which will give them a solid apartment. This is what we are reputed for,” he said.

    He added: Admiralty Homes has in the last 12 years delivered world-class properties, including Imagine Estate, Alpha Bay Estate, Silicon Valley I, Silicon Valley 11 estates and Victory Park Estate in the Lekki/Ajah area and Banana Island Apartments as well as various developments in Ogun State, among others.

  • Fitch, Augusto rate GTBank, UBA high on strong earnings, asset quality

    Fitch International, one of the foremost global rating agencies, has again adjudged Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and upgraded its ratings for the two Nigerian leading banks, citing the banks’ strong earnings and asset quality.

    In its latest Rating Report, Fitch indicated that GTBank remains one of the top two rated banks in Nigeria. Fitch revised the outlook on the GTBank’s long-term issuer default rating (IDR) from negative to stable, citing the bank’s continuing strong earnings, and stronger-than-expected liquidity as the reasons for the revised outlook.

    Fitch Ratings also affirmed GTBank’s long-term issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘B+’ with a stable outlook and short-term IDR at ‘B’. In addition, the agency affirmed the bank’s viability rating (VR) at ‘b+’, support rating (SR) at ‘4’ and GTB Finance BV’s senior notes, guaranteed by GTBank was affirmed at ‘B+’/’RR4′. Fitch revised the bank’s support rating floor (SRF) to ‘B’ from ‘B+’ as a result of the sovereign’s weak foreign currency position.

    The IDR rating and outlook reflects Fitch’s opinion of the bank’s relative ability to meet its financial commitments and GTBank’s rating of B+ remains the highest credit rating in the industry. The viability rating (VR), which is a component of the IDR measures the bank’s intrinsic credit quality and capacity to maintain ongoing operations and to avoid failure.

    The report showed that despite the tough operating environment, GTBank remained strong and stable as indicated by its profitability track record, healthy liquidity state, strong asset quality and capital ratios.

    Also, Fitch affirmed UBA’s viability rating at “B” as the pan-African banking group continues to sustain its benchmark asset quality and strong profitability amidst industry and macroeconomic challenges. UBA is one of the few banks with strong risk management framework, which has helped keep non-performing loans ratio at a moderate level of 1.74 per cent as at the end of March 2016, as against industry average of more than six per cent, as reported by Fitch.

    Fitch also upgraded UBA’s outlook to stable from negative, thus reinforcing the strong outlook on the bank, especially as its diversified network across eighteen other African countries makes it relatively immune against the potential cyclical volatilities in any of its country of operations.

    The upgrade came as Nigeria’s foremost local rating agency, Agusto & Co,  upgraded UBA’s rating from “A+” to “Aa-”, with a stable outlook, citing the bank’s improved capitalisation, good liquidity and large pool of stable deposits, strong domestic presence supported by the bank’s extensive branch network and growing alternative banking channels.

     

  • Excellence Estate to redefine class, quality

    Excellence Estate to redefine class, quality

    A new low-density community is evolving in Arepo, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

    The community, known as Excellence Estate, is close to the Journalist Estate at Arepo. It aims to replicate the ambience of the old Ikoyi, Lagos  State, with lush green areas in tandem with climate change.

    Estate developers on the Lagos-Sagamu axis of the expressway are beginning to add a touch of classy designs in their construction to ensure faster uptake.

    Excellence Estate is about 15 minutes’ drive from Alausa, Ikeja, Central Business District. It is being built on 20-acre of prime land, with construction at an advanced stage. The estate is a combination of horticulture and aesthetics. It comprises homes that are fully detached, semi- detached, terraces, and block of flats. It is subdivided into two; the built-up area, which is about two- thirds of the land, and the site and services plots that form about one-third of the land.

    Other facilities that would be fitted into Excellence estate would include, a shopping mall, church, mosque, school, hospital, corner shops and the recreational facilities like the park/green park.

    According to the promoter of the estate, and Managing Director of Inclusive Concrete & Engineering Limited, Misbau Aminu, construction work will take three years and prospective investors would get a million naira payback deal on construction cost.

    The pay back deal, Aminu explained, is an incentive given to buyers into the project, which is in form of discounted amount that will be given to them during construction of the buildings. These will include but not limited to expertise services, cement provision that will be provided to at discounted rate. He assured that his company would bring its wealth of experience in various field of construction in both the public and private sectors to bear in development of the Estate.

    Prospective investors, The Nation learnt, can key into the scheme at various stages. For instance, buildings in the state could be bought in stages either as carcass, semi-completed, and completed. The completed building is, however, targeted at Nigerians in the diaspora who are expected to buy and just move in.

    The carcass stage of a 3-bedroom apartment goes for N9 million; semi completed stage of same sells at N12 million; while the completed stage of the apartment goes for N16 million. The fully detached comes with two boys quarters (BQs) and sells for N24 million at carcass stage; N34 million at semi completed stage; and N45 million at completed stage.

    Others include the semi- detached with a BQ at N17 million carcass stage; N23 million for the semi completed; while the completed building goes for N31million. The terraces also come with a BQ at N12 million at carcass stage; N14 million at semi completed stage; and N17 million for the completed building.

    The promoter is also offering flexible mode of payment with 30 per cent upfront payment, while the balance is spread through 18 months. The estate project is being financed by Zenith Bank. However, the structural elements of these buildings are not negotiable, he said.

    “The regulation will begin from foundation, frame structure, slabs, among others, in order ensure the security of the buildings,” said Aminu.

  • ‘We’ll provide quality education’

    ‘We’ll provide quality education’

    The Executive Secretary of Ikorodu Local Government Area, Wasiu Ayodeji Adesina has said the council is committed to the provision of quality education for the citizens. He made the promise during this year’s edition of the Spelling Bee Competition organised for some primary and secondary students

    at the council’s secretariat.

    Represented by his wife, Bolanle, the council chief advised the contestants to be committed to their studies to enable them to be useful to themselves and the society, saying that when they are valuable citizens, they would be able to contribute to the country’s socio-economic and political development. He also urged them to eschew all forms of social vices that may prevent them from becoming useful citizens.

    He said education is the bedrock of any emerging society, saying “the event was aimed at encouraging our young ones to strive towards excellence and hard work as means of achieving greatness.

    He said the competition was all about learning and improving one’s knowledge through spelling words that may prove taxing. He praised the efforts of Lagos State Government in improving the standard of education, saying that the competition serves as a continuous assessment for schools.

    Praising the wife of former Lagos State Governor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for initiating the competition as a way of improving quality of education in the state, the council chief said the annual competition has helped in no small way in widening the scope of knowledge of the participating pupils and students in the area.

    Mr. Adesina reminded the audience of the fact that the Spelling Bee Competition serves as eye-opener not only for the youth, but also for adults.

    Continuing, he said: “Spelling is a fundamental step in education and it should be taken seriously. It forms part of the fundamentals of reading even though many unintentionally ignore it. It is a matter that should be taken seriously.”

    According to a release signed by the Head of Information Unit of the council, Rosemary A. Uneanya (Mrs.), at the primary school category, Miss Ogundipe Zainab of Ayangburen Primary School, Ikorodu emerged the winner while Master Oke Chukwudi of Sham-el deen Junior Grammar School, Sabo Ikorodu emerged the winner at the secondary school level.

  • Minister advises industries on quality

    The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aishat Abubakar, has advised industries to look inward to achieve the made-in-Nigeria products vision.

    She minister gave the advice during an assessment visit to Lucky Fibres Limited, makers of Nobel rugs and carpets in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    Inspecting the company’s production facilities, Hajia Abubakar expressed satisfaction that the carpets and rugs are produced in Nigeria and exported to  neighbouring  countries, such as Ghana, Republic of Benin and Ethiopia, among others.

    The minister assured the company of the government’s commitment to ensuring that all textile products are of good quality to meet international standards, urging the company to devise means of working with local manufacturers to achieve the plan in governmet’s vision.

    “You need to exercise more patience because we don’t want to address a part of the problem, but we are putting a holistic approach in place. It is not just this sector, but for all the sectors.

    “You, manufacturers should also be watchdogs for one another because government might not see all the lapses. But when you identify any challenge that threatens your work, approach us and let us see what we can do to help,” Abubakar noted.

    Speaking on the company’s challenges in meeting international standards, the Senior Human Resources Manager for Lucky Fibres Limited, Mrs. Kemi Ajibade, lamented the impact of activities of smugglers who take advantage of Nigeria’s illegal borders to import sub-quality carpets and rugs into the country.

    According to Ajibade, an average Nigerian cannot identify quality products, but will rather buy what is affordable in the market even if it does not serve for a long time. She, therefore, urged the government to address the activities of smugglers.

    “If you visit Alaba Market, you will see different kinds of sub-standard carpets and rugs for sale,” she lamented, noting that the company imports some of its production materials like polypropylene (PP). “This is because local manufacturers could not meet the quality that our machine can work with. The machine is the latest in the industry and only works with high quality fibres,” she added.

    The General Manager of Lucky Fibres, Mr. Jitesh Pamnani, thanked the minister for the inspection, promising that the company will continue to introduce the best machine, technology and manpower to keep the industry flourishing.

  • Viju restates commitment to quality

    Viju Industries Nigeria Limited will continue to emphasise quality in  its products,  the Special Assistant to the Chairman, Viju industries Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Tom Hu, has said.

    He spoke at the awards for distributors in Lagos.

    He said: “We have been in the right part for milk production portfolio growth; our staff work very hard in research for a better health by improving the product’s content. You will be introduced to ‘New Viju, New Beginning’ which has come to restore lost hope.”

    Appreciating stakeholders, he said the firm owes its achievements to the wise decision-making of the management team, the collaborative efforts of distributors as well as employee’s progressive hard work.

    He said Viju’s foray into the market after decades of growth has garnered recognition awards from various organisations across the country.

    Hu pledged to strengthen the cooperation with the firm’s distributors regardless of economic uncertainty.

    “The year 2015 has been a remarkable year. We all experienced many challenges like increased price of raw materials, too much rain fall, change of government and new policies, the level of competitions were high and Naira devaluation but with our joined efforts, Viju Industries will continue to cooperate with our esteemed distributors to overcome every difficulties and challenges as we move ahead for a better tomorrow.”

    The Marketing Manager, Mr Suleiman also urged distributors to be more committed as the firm has made efforts to restructure its sales pattern for the year.

    “This is a new beginning and we do hope that with great cooperation needed from the distributors and with the new sales team we have put in place in addition to the sales representative we are about building, distributors will give us all the best so that we will both smile at the end of the day. With the new categories of milk drinks introduced into the Nigerian market, we hope we will cooperate with each order and arrest where needed,” he said.

  • NIPOST chief promises quality services

    NIPOST chief promises quality services

    Acting Postmaster-General/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), Enoch Ade Ogun, has restated NIPOST’s commitment to better service deliver.

    He spoke at the maiden edition of NIPOST Workshop Service customers’ forum.

    “NIPOST is committed to building effective and sustainable collaboration with all relevant stakeholders in order to deliver efficient and high quality services,” he said.

    The workshop was established during the era of the defunct Post and Telecommunications Department (P and T) to provide postal equipment, tools and furniture for post and communication operations.

    It is a registered arm of NIPOST with a factory land mass of 12,167.8 square meters comprising a covered factory block of 1389.56 square meters and a opened factory block 1186,3 square meters.

    Some of the services it provides include wood fittings, building maintenance, metal fittings, crankshaft cutting services, diesel Injector machine services, auto-mechanical Services, electrical Installations, as well as vocational training.

    Speakers said there was the need to reinvigorate the activities of NIPOST workshop services.

    Otunba Dele Olapeju, who chaired the event, lamented that the global recession calls for immediate diversification. “We hope that the activities of the NIPOST workshop services will receive government attention,” he said.

    The workshop management said the products on display could compete favourably in the market and should therefore, receive increased patronage nationwide.

    Equipped with state-of-the- art machinery, it also has a warehouse facility measuring 513 square meters. The workshop was established in 1956, making it one of the oldest and still functioning factory facilities in the country.

    It operates in diverse but compliementary areas of business. In meeting the realities of modern times especially in the provision of quality products and services, NIPOST Workshop has recently been invigorated and the product line extended to provide, among others, provision of office, home and school furniture/fittings, metal/wrought iron works, motor vehicle maintenance and engine reconditioning, production of corporate gift items etc.

    The services are all provided by the workshop using reliable machines and experienced workforce.