Objectives of SDGs highly ambitious but attainable—SON DG

Director General Standard Organisation of Nigeria SON, Mallam Farouk Salim has said that objectives of the SDGs are highly ambitious but attainable. He said this in a statement to mark the 2021 World Standards Day. According to him, the theme of the 2021 celebrations being coordinated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is “Standards for Sustainable Development Goals – Our shared Vision for a better World”. Stressing the joint message of the three international standardisation bodies, Mallam Salim posited that “The intense battle against a persistent global pandemic revealed the absolute necessity of addressing the SDGs in an inclusive way, to strengthen our societies, making them more resilient and more equitable”.

The statement invites stakeholders around the country to join the three international standardisation bodies, IEC, ISO and ITU and SON as an affiliate on a mission that affirms the importance of the seventeen SDGs to build back better, stressing that standards are more relevant than ever in this pursuit. The SON Chief Executive said further that the entire standards system is built on collaboration which is a testament to the power of cooperation and the belief that we are stronger than the sum of our parts. “By working together, we are empowering people with real-world solutions to face sustainability challenges head-on” he stated. According to Salim “It is in this spirit that the IEC, ISO and ITU are engaging in a multi-year World Standards Day journey that showcases the many ways in which international standards contribute to the success of the SDGs.  

Commenting on the celebrations in Nigeria, the SON Director General stated that his organisation has been in the forefront of domesticating international Standards for use in the country by working with relevant stakeholders to adopt them as National Standards, as well as providing training and certification services for organisations and individuals in the last fifty years. This according to him helps to address the attainment of the objectives of the seventeen SDGs in Nigeria, Mallam Salim disclosed that his organisation would undertake road shows in Lagos and Abuja as well as conduct a sensitisation workshop for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the Country to propagate the message of the 2021 World Standards Day within the month of October.

He enjoined all Nigerians to support SON in the propagation and implementation of Standards for the benefit of the Nation and its people through participation in standardisation activities, provision of information on suspected substandard products and demand for quality at all times in purchase decisions.

He concluded thus “We stand united to work together to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, with standards for the SDGs, and our ‘Shared vision for a better world. The cooperation of many public and private partners and the use of all available tools, including international standards and conformity assessment are some of the requirements for attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing social imbalances, develop a sustainable economy, and slow the rate of climate change.