SON Marks Three Years Under Okeke with Global Measurement Milestone
Nigeria has signed an international agreement designed to secure global recognition for its measurement standards and certificates, a move the Standards Organisation of Nigeria says could support trade and reduce businesses’ reliance on foreign testing services.
The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM MRA) in France on Nigeria’s behalf.
The signing took place during the 28th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), coinciding with the third anniversary of Okeke’s appointment as SON director-general.
In a statement signed by SON Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Ethan Talatu, the organisation said Nigeria was admitted as an Associate State of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) on 4 June 2026.
Okeke described the agreement as a step that brings Nigeria into the international measurement system. The CIPM MRA provides a framework for national metrology institutes to demonstrate that their measurement standards are equivalent, enabling international recognition of their calibration and measurement certificates.
“Its main outputs, internationally recognised Calibration and Measurement Capabilities, are published in the BIPM Key Comparison Database.”
Okeke said the arrangement would bring international recognition of Nigeria’s measurement capabilities, global acceptance of its calibration certificates and easier trade across borders. He added that it would reduce reliance on foreign metrology services, strengthen SON’s technical authority and create opportunities for international scientific collaboration and capacity building.
SON said Nigeria had become a full member state of the BIPM, joining Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia as the only African full members.
The milestone follows the accreditation of three National Metrology Institute laboratories, covering mass, temperature and pressure, to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 through the Egyptian Accreditation Council.
Digital reforms and standards development
SON Marks Three Years Under Okeke with Global Measurement Milestone
Nigeria has signed an international agreement designed to secure global recognition for its measurement standards and certificates, a move the Standards Organisation of Nigeria says could support trade and reduce businesses’ reliance on foreign testing services.
The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM MRA) in France on Nigeria’s behalf.
The signing took place during the 28th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), coinciding with the third anniversary of Okeke’s appointment as SON director-general.
In a statement signed by SON Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Ethan Talatu, the organisation said Nigeria was admitted as an Associate State of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) on 4 June 2026.
Okeke described the agreement as a step that brings Nigeria into the international measurement system. The CIPM MRA provides a framework for national metrology institutes to demonstrate that their measurement standards are equivalent, enabling international recognition of their calibration and measurement certificates.
“Its main outputs, internationally recognised Calibration and Measurement Capabilities, are published in the BIPM Key Comparison Database.”
Okeke said the arrangement would bring international recognition of Nigeria’s measurement capabilities, global acceptance of its calibration certificates and easier trade across borders. He added that it would reduce reliance on foreign metrology services, strengthen SON’s technical authority and create opportunities for international scientific collaboration and capacity building.
SON said Nigeria had become a full member state of the BIPM, joining Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia as the only African full members.
The milestone follows the accreditation of three National Metrology Institute laboratories, covering mass, temperature and pressure, to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 through the Egyptian Accreditation Council.
Digital reforms and standards development
During Okeke’s three years in office, SON has also pursued the digitisation of its services. The agency introduced the Digital Standards Platform, e-MANCAP and the Electronic Product Registration System, and moved SONCAP and Import Permit processes to the National Single Window.
The reforms earned SON second place among federal ministries, departments and agencies in the 2024 PEBEC Transparency and Efficiency Report.
For manufacturers and small businesses, internationally recognised certificates could allow products to be tested in Nigeria and accepted in overseas markets, reducing the expense of using foreign laboratories.
SON has certified 131 companies and 220 products under the African Quality Mark, which the agency says can help local producers access markets across the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The organisation has also launched the Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (2024–2027) and secured approval for 217 Nigerian Industrial Standards. It has developed more than 80 standards for Compressed Natural Gas, supporting the country’s gas-to-transport drive.
