NNEW to start certifying small-scale products for export

The Nigeria Employers of Consultative Association (NECA) in partnership with the NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has established a body that certifies products of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) for export.

This was made known to Start-Up Digest at NNEW’s maiden edition of its quarterly town hall meeting in Lagos.

“We have flagged off a company which is the very first certification body in the country. We are still in the process with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the certification of the products for export,” said Modupe Oyekunle, president, NNEW.

According to the organisation, the new company would address some of the issues bothering on rejection of the country’s exports.

“With the NNEW’s certification in place, businesses can get certification of ISO standard easier and cheaper,” said Kehind Omojola, 1st vice president, NNEW.

The ISO is a standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system. It helps businesses and organisations to become more efficient and competitive.

“The certification organisation is NECA’s Global Certification Limited. It is one of the outcomes from the National Quality Infrastructure project, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in Nigeria by UNIDO. We have been working with UNIDO to meet the objectives of the body,” she added.

Omojola stated that before a business would be certified, there would be training to build capacity and consultants to help the businesses prepare their documentations, as well as auditors to ensure that there is compliance.

The group also disclosed that it had trained more than 350 women entrepreneurs and was in the process of creating an industrial hub for its members.

“We have trained well over 350 women entrepreneurs in our ‘Start Your Business Program’ (SYP). We run the International Labour Organisation (ILO) module in our training. We have the start your business, improve your business and expand your business training programs.”

The leadership of the organisation disclosed its agenda on how they intended to take the organisation forward and get more women to register with the organisation.

Speaking on the expansion of the organisation, said the group would establish offices in the six geo-political zones, including Kaduna State for Women Entrepreneurs in the Northern region; Enugu for Women in the East, Ibadan for South West, and Jos, Plateau State, for North-Central.

JOSEPHINE OKOJIE