131 Nigerian Firms Secure Africa Quality Mark, Gain Continental Access

No fewer than 131 Nigerian companies have secured the Africa Quality Mark (AQM), a continental certification that gives their products wider acceptance across African markets and positions them to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The certification, presented at a ceremony in Abuja attended by government officials, industry stakeholders and representatives of the African Organisation for Standardization (ARSO), is expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigerian products, reduce technical barriers to trade and enhance the country’s export prospects across the continent.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the recognition of the companies was evidence that products made in Nigeria could meet continental standards and compete successfully across borders.

Oduwole said the certification went beyond a mere quality assessment exercise, describing it as a reflection of the emergence of a stronger culture of quality, competitiveness and industrialisation in Nigeria.

According to her, the achievement underscores the resilience, innovation and determination of Nigerian manufacturers who continue to improve standards and strengthen the country’s industrial base despite prevailing economic challenges.

She said the Federal Government remained committed to implementing policies that support industrial expansion, export growth and local value addition in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“We are creating an enabling environment that drives investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth. Our vision is clear: Nigeria must transition from a consumption-driven economy to a leading production and export hub for Africa,” she said.

The minister noted that as implementation of the AfCFTA gathers momentum, African countries must move beyond fragmented markets towards a more integrated and competitive continental economy.

She stressed, however, that access to markets alone would not guarantee success, saying businesses must be able to produce goods that inspire confidence and satisfy quality requirements across borders.

“Quality is no longer a competitive advantage; it is a necessity. Consumers and trading partners increasingly demand products that meet stringent standards of safety, reliability and performance,” she said.

Oduwole explained that the Africa Quality Mark, developed under the African Organisation for Standardization, serves as a powerful symbol of trust by assuring consumers that certified products meet harmonised African standards.

She described the certification as a passport to expanded market access and greater acceptance across the continent, adding that companies that have earned the mark now have an opportunity to significantly increase their production and exports.

While congratulating the award recipients, the minister urged them not to see the recognition as a final destination but as a foundation for greater accomplishments.

“You are now ambassadors of quality. The responsibility rests on you to sustain these standards and inspire others to follow. With this certification, the market is now wider for you. To meet both domestic and export demand, you must produce more and scale up your operations,” she said.

She also called for accelerated efforts to align Nigerian standards with African standards in order to enable more products to qualify for certification and gain easier access to regional markets.

Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, described the certification programme as a major milestone in the country’s drive to improve product quality and enhance export competitiveness.

He said harmonised standards have become increasingly important as African countries seek to deepen economic integration through the AfCFTA.

According to him, the existence of different standards and certification requirements across countries often creates obstacles for manufacturers seeking to export their products.

He noted that the Africa Quality Mark addresses this challenge by providing a unified framework for production, quality assurance and market acceptance.

“What this means is that the companies receiving the Africa Quality Mark today are no longer limited to the Nigerian market. They now have access to the broader African market. We now have one standard, one market and a common framework for quality assessment,” Okeke said.

He added that SON would continue to support manufacturers through standards development, factory inspections, product testing, certification and market surveillance activities aimed at improving quality and industrial competitiveness.

The SON boss said the agency was also intensifying awareness campaigns to encourage more manufacturers to embrace harmonised African standards as a strategic requirement for export readiness.

Also speaking, Secretary-General of the African Organisation for Standardization, Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, said standards play a critical role in making continental trade agreements effective.

He argued that the signing of trade agreements alone would not automatically guarantee increased trade among African countries.

According to him, countries and consumers must be confident that imported products are safe and meet agreed quality specifications before they can gain acceptance in new markets.

“The first issue is safety. If you are accepting products from another country, you need to be sure they are safe for your people. Standards provide those specifications. The second issue is trade. You must conform not only to your country’s standards but also to the expectations of buyers across Africa,” he said.

Nsengimana noted that products carrying the Africa Quality Mark enjoy greater credibility because the standards were developed collectively by experts from different African countries.

He said the certification effectively opens a market of over 1.4 billion people to qualifying companies and provides them with opportunities to compete at a continental level.

The ARSO chief commended Nigeria for its commitment to standardisation and product certification, noting that the country currently has one of the highest numbers of certified products on the continent.

He encouraged more Nigerian manufacturers to embrace quality standards and certification as a pathway to growth, competitiveness and sustainable participation in intra-African trade.

The event ended with the presentation of Africa Quality Mark certificates to the successful companies, marking another step in Nigeria’s efforts to position itself as a leading industrial and export hub on the continent.