The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has advised consumers to check product certification marks before buying goods to avoid purchasing substandard or counterfeit products.
The organisation also announced that it had published a list of products certified under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) on its official website to help consumers identify approved locally manufactured goods.
SON Director-General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, disclosed this on Friday during the ongoing Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND 2026) at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, also known as the National Theatre, in Iganmu, Lagos.
Okeke, who led officials of the organisation to the exhibition, said making the list available online would enable consumers to confirm the certification status of products and make better purchasing decisions. He encouraged Nigerians to visit SON’s website to check certified products and report goods displaying suspicious or counterfeit certification marks.
According to him, the organisation’s participation in the exhibition was aimed at educating manufacturers, small business owners and consumers about product quality and certification. He noted that many small businesses produce quality goods but lack information about the certification process.
He added that obtaining certification could help local manufacturers access wider markets while assuring consumers of product quality. At its exhibition stand, SON officials educated visitors on 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.
The officials further provided information on identifying substandard products, verifying SON authentication marks and reporting suspicious goods. Small and medium-sized enterprises also received guidance on certification requirements, including application procedures, product testing and approval.
Okeke said the awareness campaign supported the Federal Government’s efforts to encourage local production under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He stressed that Nigerian-made products must meet international standards to compete effectively in global markets under the government’s Nigeria First policy. SON said its participation in CANEX WKND 2026 was part of efforts to promote quality standards, strengthen local manufacturing and protect consumers from substandard goods.
