AfCfTA: National Quality Council Task Agric Stakeholders on Global Standards
Gilbert Ekugbe
The National Quality Council (NQC) has charged agricultural stakeholders in the cassava value chain to adhere strictly to global standards in their quest to benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Chairman of NQC, Mr. Osita Aboloma, explained the need for Nigeria to take optimum advantage of the opportunity provided by the hosting of the implementation of the AfCFTA in view of the federal government’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security.
Aboloma who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Bola Fashina, at a meeting of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the forthcoming African Cassava Conference (ACC) scheduled to hold on the 19th-20th October in Abuja, charged stakeholders in the organised private sector and relevant federal and state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), financial institutions, development partners as well as educational institutions in the agricultural sector to actively participate in the forthcoming conference through sponsorship, presentation of papers, panel discussions and exhibition of cassava derivatives and innovations during the 3-day cassava conference.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General, SON, Mr. Farouk Salim, enthused that SON played a pivotal role in ensuring quality, safety and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural produce including cassava and its derivatives.
Salim stated that his organisation provided a solid foundation for innovation, trade facilitation and consumer protection, while also enabling market access and enhancing the reputation of the nation’s products on the global stage.
He assured the gathering of SON’s commitment towards the conference, particularly in ensuring that requisite Nigerian Industrial Standards are made available for all derivatives of cassava for local consumption as well as export.
In his remarks, the Country Manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, Mr. Yusuf Dollah, stated that the conference would provide an opportunity for his organisation and others to showcase recent efforts in the development of the cassava value chain while also promising full technical support towards its successful execution.
