The federal government, in collaboration with the United Kingdom, has unveiled a programme aimed at empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening Nigeria's quality infrastructure to support international trade.
The initiative was formally launched in Abuja under the UK-funded Standards Partnership Programme, which is now in its third phase and will run until March 2026. The programme is part of the UK's commitment under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch, Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade in Nigeria, said the partnership will enhance the capacity of Nigerian SMEs to access global markets, particularly the UK.
"This initiative supports Nigeria's ability to meet global trade standards and allows SMEs to benefit from the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which grants duty-free access to over 3,500 Nigerian products," Umukoro said.
He noted that the programme is deliberately inclusive, with a focus on assisting smaller businesses in meeting the technical and regulatory standards required for exports. Key local institutions including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) are being equipped to raise product quality and safety to international levels.
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The Standards Partnership Programme is currently focused on four pilot sectors—leather, tea, cashew, and coffee—to identify challenges in measurement standards, accreditation, and conformity assessments. The goal is to close existing gaps and make these sectors export-ready.
Olalekan Omoniyi, Deputy Director of Standards Development at SON, described the partnership as crucial in aligning stakeholders on the role of standards in driving trade and exports. He emphasized that a strong national quality infrastructure is essential for sustainable growth and competitiveness in the global market.
The programme also works closely with the National Quality Council and other stakeholders to implement Nigeria's National Quality Policy, ensuring a unified approach to building a robust export ecosystem.
