SON marks 20 years of MANCAP, says 17,866 products now certified
- SON says 17,866 products from 8,634 companies now hold MANCAP certification, up from 1,930 products in 2006.
- The agency marked 20 years of the scheme and gave awards to firms certified for 10, 15 and 20 years.
- Officials urged manufacturers to treat quality as an investment, not just a regulatory box to tick.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says 17,866 products made by 8,634 Nigerian companies now carry its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification, as the scheme marked 20 years.
SON Director-General Dr Ifeanyi Okeke gave the figures in Lagos at the 2026 National MANCAP Quality Award Ceremony, held alongside the anniversary, according to The Sun and ThisDay.
He said the scheme certified 1,930 products from 458 companies in its first year. The two outlets differ slightly on when that began: ThisDay reported MANCAP took effect on January 1, 2006, while The Sun said it was introduced on February 1, 2006.
For ordinary Nigerians, the numbers matter at the shelf. MANCAP is the stamp that a product made in Nigeria was checked against the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard before it was sold. SON says the scheme exists to keep substandard and unsafe goods off the market and to give buyers value for their money.
What the award recognised
Okeke said the ceremony, held under the theme "Building Trust in Quality and Safety Ecosystem", honoured companies that kept their certification for 10, 15 and 20 years. He described the anniversary as a chance to celebrate "a legacy, recognising excellence and reaffirming our commitment to quality as the foundation of national development".
He said SON would keep strengthening conformity assessment and supporting manufacturers so Nigerian products can compete at home and abroad.
Representing the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, said sustained compliance takes commitment, discipline and continuous investment in quality. He urged manufacturers to build quality into every stage of production rather than treat it as a mere regulatory duty.
"Quality should be regarded as an investment in the sustainability and growth of every business," he said, according to ThisDay.
The Head of SON's MANCAP Division, Engr Ayodele Akinware, said the scheme now covers six sectors: food; chemicals; electrical and electronics; mechanical products; civil and construction materials; and textiles and leather. He said the SON Act 2015 strengthened its legal backing.
What happens next
SON said it will keep inspecting factories to confirm that certified manufacturers maintain the required production processes, and it asked consumers to make informed choices when buying.
The agency also called for consistent enforcement from regulators, saying quality should become a defining feature of Nigerian manufacturing.
