Women urged to get their business certified

Women have been urged to get their businesses certified and standardised to meet export standards.  This call was made by the chairperson, Neca Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), Mrs Ekaete Umoh at a seminar tagged ‘Bridging the Gap between MSMEs and Developmental & Government Agencies’held in Abuja. “Some of us are already working with them […]

Women have been urged to get their businesses certified and standardised to meet export standards. 

This call was made by the chairperson, Neca Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), Mrs Ekaete Umoh at a seminar tagged ‘Bridging the Gap between MSMEs and Developmental & Government Agencies’held in Abuja.

“Some of us are already working with them and we have already started exporting, but a lot of us want to have NAFDAC number and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) certification. So it’s up to us women to work and see that the needful be done so we see ourselves in the places we ought to be,” she said.

The Deputy Director in charge of One Stop Investment Centre, Veronica Nkechi Ezeh, said NAFDAC was very keen on promoting SMEs. “The reason is that we cannot but promote our Nigerian economy,” she said.

  She said the agency would ensure that all the questions from entrepreneurs got solution from NAFDAC. 

The Assistant Desk Officer, SME Desk, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs Uduak Udoso, said SON had given some good incentives and subsidies that would help SMEs grow. 

The Director, Debt Management, Federal Inland Revenue Service,  Mr Fani Faniyi,  said the tax man was not out to kill any business, adding that there were a number of things that should make life easier for MSMEs if they were registered.

The Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo, who was represented by UM Etokowoh, said conditions for registration as exporter were easy and women should take advantage of that.

One of the participants and MD of Auma Foods and Supplies Ltd, Barr (Mrs) Chioma Enyiegbulam, said the seminar was impactful. 

“I started my business barely two months ago and part of my concerns has been how to do the needful as regards Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies.”