Oyo Govt, SON Partner To Boost Food Quality, SME Standards

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving public health and boosting industrial standards through a strategic partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), with a strong focus on food fortification and compliance among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Speaking while receiving a delegation from SON at the Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olajide Mamud Okesade, described the collaboration as timely and aligned with the current administration’s priority of ensuring the well-being of citizens.

He noted that effective documentation and structured collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) remain critical to achieving meaningful results. The Permanent Secretary emphasized the need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities between the Ministry and SON to ensure that policies translate into measurable outcomes.

According to him, “Food fortification is a vital area where we can work together to improve the nutritional status of our people. As the saying goes, ‘if you don’t watch what you eat, you will eat medicine.’ This underscores the importance of this initiative to public health.”

Mr. Okesade further stressed the importance of developing a practical work plan with timelines, joint monitoring mechanisms, and robust data-sharing systems to drive the partnership. He added that the Ministry is open to leveraging existing structures, such as the State Industrial Crisis Management Committee, to support effective implementation and outreach to SMEs.

He reiterated the Ministry’s willingness to participate fully in the initiative, noting that substandard products have had adverse effects on consumers and exporters whose goods are often rejected in international markets.

Earlier, the Director General/Chief Executive of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, in a speech delivered by the Director, South West Region, Mr. Adedayo David, highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in addressing malnutrition through food fortification.

He explained that fortification, adding essential vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods such as flour, sugar, salt, and edible oil, remains a practical solution to tackling micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among vulnerable groups.

Dr. Okeke disclosed that SON has established standards for fortified foods and is introducing a Digital Fortification Quality Traceability system to enhance monitoring, improve compliance, and ensure transparency.

He identified key areas for collaboration with the Ministry to include joint monitoring of fortified products, alignment with state nutrition programmes, data sharing, and public sensitization campaigns.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Nutrition, SON, Mrs. Nwafor-Ikenna Victoria, emphasized the critical role of SMEs in achieving compliance with fortification standards. She noted that many cases of non-compliance stem from inadequate traceability and poor product documentation among medium-scale enterprises.

She appealed for the Ministry’s support in identifying and engaging SMEs across the state, stressing that collaboration is essential to drive awareness, ensure compliance, and monitor market activities effectively.

In her remarks, the Director of Trade in the Ministry, Mrs. Modupe Adesina, welcomed the proposed partnership and disclosed plans by the Ministry to establish a Department of Quality Control to further strengthen standards among local producers, especially exporters.

She added that the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has continued to support SMEs in obtaining export certifications through the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), thereby enhancing their competitiveness in global markets.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen engagement through formal communication, structured planning, and sustained collaboration aimed at improving food quality, safeguarding public health, and promoting industrial growth in Oyo State.