SON to Nigerians: Verify product certification marks before buying

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged Nigerians to verify product certification marks before purchasing goods, warning against the risks of substandard and counterfeit products.

The organisation also disclosed that it had uploaded the list of locally manufactured products certified under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) to its official website to help consumers identify genuine products.

The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, disclosed this on Friday during the ongoing CANEX WKND 2026 (Creative Africa Nexus Weekend) at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Okeke, who led a team of SON officials to the exhibition, said the online publication would empower consumers to verify certified products and make informed purchasing decisions.

“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 urged consumers to visit the organisation’s website to check certified products and report goods bearing fake or questionable certification marks.

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The SON boss said the organisation’s participation in the expo was aimed at engaging manufacturers, small business owners and consumers directly on the importance of product quality and certification.

“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 organisation’s exhibition stand, officials engaged exhibitors and visitors on product certification under the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).

They also explained the MANCAP programme, which applies to locally manufactured products, and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), which covers imported goods.

Visitors were educated on how to identify counterfeit and substandard products, verify SON authentication marks and report suspicious goods.

Small and medium-sized enterprises also received guidance on certification procedures, including applications, product testing and approval processes.

Okeke said the organisation’s awareness campaign aligned with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to promote local production and economic growth.

He stressed that Nigerian-made products must meet international standards to compete effectively in global markets under the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy.

SON said its participation in the exhibition was part of efforts to promote quality consciousness, strengthen local manufacturing and protect consumers from substandard products.