SON: A reflection on Okeke’s task of enforcing standardization

By Adikwu Samuel Ebo

There’s no doubt that the present state of our socio-economic downturn in the country can be associated with the culture and modus operandi of assigning responsibilities to individuals who do not have the capacity, determination and patriotism to handle the onerous task at their front burner. Over the years now, our inability to appraise genuinely the strength and potentials of abundant resources in our land and put the round peg in a round hole has led to a protracted underdevelopment as a result of untapped resources. This has also led to truncated governance, resulting in a deluge of national frustration, resentment, buck passing and censorious commentaries.

Our society is in dire need of leaders who earn the trust, respect and confidence of people at the helm of affairs, leaders who will support and encourage others to fulfill their dreams and aspirations as members of the larger society. But as it is the case with us as a country, some of our public office holders are in a position not necessarily because they have the requisite qualification or patriotism. This makes it difficult for them to handle herculean task of effective public service in our national development effort.

They view their privileged positions parochially through the prisms of visionlessness, discourteousness and despotic tendencies instead of expected productive and selfless services to the nation and humanity. However, what is so consoling is that in the midst of this gloomy scenario of paucity of inspiring leadership and moldy crowd of national wreckers, we can still beat our chest for few men of towering integrity in living up to the expectations to deliver on their core tasks.

Among the notable exceptions in terms of outstanding public service is the Director-General of Standards Organisations of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, a patriotic flag-waver, a distinguished fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) who took over the mantle of leadership on October 23, 2023, after a successful tenure of Mallam Farouk Salin.

This well deserved appointment of Dr. Okeke as the DG of the SON is in tandem with Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s remarkable strategy of identifying potentials, strengthening and repositioning human capital for proficient and productive output.

The DG has proven himself as a diligent and productive manager and administrator. On assumption at the SON – an organization that is saddled with the responsibility of promoting consumers confidence and global competitiveness of Nigerian products and services through standardization and quality assurance – after extensive review of the handover notes kick started the engine by setting up necessary machinery towards transparent administrative efficiency and effective service delivery for locally manufactured products so as to boost exportation.

The well corporately cultured Anambrarian promised to eradicate substandard products towards higher capacity utilization, increased youth employment, reduction of poverty and boosting of confidence in the export sector. So far, it is evident that he has not disappointed in his avowal.

Also, in consonance with the need to create conducive atmosphere and provide tools for the staff of the agency for quality service delivery, he repositioned the organization by providing access to advanced laboratories, enabling them to enhance products quality that could compete globally. He has ensured that SON provides excellent public satisfaction in services, dealing with issues of official compromises, flushing out substandard items and ensuring safe imported products to the country for Nigerians who are the end users.

The agency’s vision which is to improve life through standardization and quality assurance with core values as expertise, discipline, integrity, customer focus and teamwork are being pursued vigorously with remarkable result. Okeke-led SON always advocates tenaciously for professional and ethical practices in the discharge of official duties devoid of contempt, compromises in the interest of the nation and her citizens. He operates on honest, open and transparent communication with all stakeholders and does not provide any room for profligacy as a prudent accountant.

Complaints from staff are promptly treated and administrative issues addressed devoid of injustice, indiscipline and manipulations. He has continued to emphasize on genuine dedication to duty, hard work and prove of excellent performance.

On assumption on duty, the agency began to take a better shape with a refurbished outlook courtesy of his effort at providing a befitting office environment for staff to work effectively. The emphatic DG has continued to wax stronger in rebranding SON to meet the global standard. It is therefore important for all relevant stakeholders to give him unflinching support, pray for God to grant him sound health, and more knowledge to leave indelible legacy in the achievers showroom for generations yet unborn to appraise.

It is also imperative to draw the ire merchandises of substandard products to change their ways, just as those who are victims of same should not die in silence; they should call on SON for justice and rectification.

Also, there is a need for improved funding to enable the agency discharge its responsibilities and serve the public better through increased public awareness, official training and retraining, monitoring, investigation, arrest and prosecution of violators of SON’s Act.

Ebo is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. He is reachable on: adikwusamuelebo@gmail.com.