SON, IEC To Advance Standards In Electrical, Electronic Products
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on Thursday hosted a high-level Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards global conformity in electrical and electronic standardisation.
The event, held in the Federal Capital Territory, welcomed Mr Philippe Metzger, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as part of his 2025 tour of African member states.
His presence underscores Nigeria’s growing role in shaping global standards for electrotechnical products.
Delivering the address of welcome, the Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, hailed the visit as “memorable for the standardisation fraternity,” noting that Nigeria has made substantial strides since becoming an IEC member.
From joining as an affiliate in 2006 to attaining full membership in 2017, Nigeria has leveraged its status to develop local standards aligned with international best practices.
“Nigeria’s membership has ensured effective coordination of stakeholder involvement and contributed significantly to the development and nationalisation of international standards,” Okeke stated.
He also highlighted SON’s recent inclusion in the IEC System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components.
The move is expected to bolster confidence in “Made-in-Nigeria” products, opening new doors to international markets and reducing rejection rates for exports.
Okeke emphasised the critical role of manufacturers, researchers, regulators, and industry stakeholders in the standards development process, calling for deeper involvement through Nigeria’s participation in 23 active IEC Technical Committees.
“This forum presents a rare opportunity for veritable discussions with Mr Metzger on how to sustainably benefit from our IEC membership,” he added.
In attendance were key industry players, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of regulatory bodies and private sector organisations.
Okeke expressed appreciation to Engr. Sanusi Garba, Chairman of NERC, for his agency’s strong partnership with SON in organising the event, describing it as a model of interagency cooperation aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The forum featured technical sessions aimed at educating stakeholders on the benefits of IEC standards and schemes, with an open invitation extended to Nigerian manufacturers to engage with global standardisation systems.
Okeke appreciated Metzger and the IEC delegation for visiting Nigeria and reiterated SON’s unwavering commitment to supporting local industries in aligning with international standards.
Also speaking, the IEC secretary-general urged Nigeria to fully embrace international standards in the fields of clean energy, digital technologies, and smart grids.
According to Metzger, this will help to boost the country’s integration into global supply chains and accelerate industrial innovation.
He emphasised the IEC’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability through cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and smart energy systems.
According to Metzger, these technologies are tools to enhance productivity and innovation, not mere trends.
He reiterated the importance of standards in safeguarding quality and preventing unsafe products from entering the Nigerian market.
He further stressed the role of IEC in enabling smart grids that manage multi-way power flows and integrate renewable energy effectively.
The secretary-general also underscored IEC’s work on emerging energy solutions, including certification for low-carbon hydrogen and robust cybersecurity standards tailored for industrial environments, which are critical to Nigeria’s growing energy sector.
On sustainability, Metzger reiterated recent IEC initiatives such as carbon footprint verification and circular economy services, aimed at supporting Nigeria’s ambitions for environmentally responsible industrial growth.
He called for increased participation of young Nigerian engineers and experts in IEC’s programmes, noting the essential role of digital natives in shaping the future of standards and innovation.
“Nigeria has incredible know-how and talent. Your young professionals must be empowered to inject new ideas into global standards,” he said.
Metzger expressed optimism about the ongoing partnership with Nigeria and encouraged stakeholders to deepen collaboration through the national committee to harness the full potential of clean energy and digital transformation.
SON, IEC To Advance Standards In Electrical, Electronic Products is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
