Insecurity and poverty North East eliminates MSMEs in Bauchi State – Gov Mohammed

The Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that insecurity and poverty in the North East of Nigeria has eliminated micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in his state as they have become completely non-existent.

Consequently, the state government is looking forward to the partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to revamp the manufacturing sector in order to galvanize the state’s economy and make Bauchi products competitive internationally.

Mohammed made the remarks when he received top officials of SON, led by the Director General (DG), Mallam Farouk Salim, who paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at the State Council Chambers Government House Bauchi recently.

In his opening remarks, Salim said SON is ready to offer its expertise to the Bauchi State Government in support of MSMEs development in the state.

The DG indicated SON’s readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State to train and support MSMEs’ growth in the areas of Codes of Practices, packaging, labelling and good manufacturing practices.

In addition, SON is prepared to train the State’s ministries and agencies in the ISO Management Systems Certification (MSC) and Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Standards, he said, adding that these and other strategies are to increase productivity in the state and reduce unemployment which is causing restiveness and insecurity in the region.

Salim stated that with the MSME support, “small scale producers will be standardized and their products will be able to key into the AfCTA programme which will be a boost to manufacturers and the economy of the State, making their products acceptable across our borders and overseas”.

The DG SON commended the State Governor for the gift of a land and support in the construction of the State/ Regional Office Laboratory.

He said the office is ready for commissioning. However, the organisation is in need of additional Operational vehicle and laboratory equipment which will allow for full scale functioning and adequate coverage of every part of the State.

Furthermore, the DG disclosed that SON is putting finishing touches to the office complex towards commissioning, to serve Bauchi and the North East region and would be looking forward to having the governor at the commissioning of the building.

Governor Mohammed in his remarks thanked the President Mohammadu Buhari for appointing the DG, seeing that he is a good fit for the job and expressed his expectations that the Organisation would benefit immensely from his leadership.

He reiterated Bauchi State’s continued support for SON in the state, and announced the donation of operational vehicles to the state office and also pledged his support for the planned commissioning of the State/ Regional Office.

The Governor said SON is so critical in getting us out of the woods by standardizing our artefacts, agricultural produce and also the mining industry, by creating a value chain that will make our products acceptable worldwide.

As part of his tour to Bauchi State, the DG SON met with the Organization’s Regional Coordinators who were having regional offices confab in Bauchi State.

At the meeting the DG was briefed by the Director Operations on the outcome of the 3-day strategic meeting and review of activities, with a view of proffering solutions to perennial problems and situations within the state and the regional structures of the Organisation.

The DG addressed several issues raised and assured them of prompt solutions while at the same time urged them to become change agents in their various domains by being creative in their services and provision of solutions.

The DG also paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Bauchi Dr. Riliwanu Suleiman Adamu, mni to pay homage to him in his royal court at the Emirs Palace Bauchi.

The DG also visited the SON Bauchi State Office, where he was received by the State Coordinator, Engr. Hauwa Husseini were he interacted with the staff and afterwards taken on a tour of the SON new State office/ laboratory complex.