SON Deploys Authentication Technology Amid Proliferation of Fake Products
James Emejo in Abuja Director General/Chief Executive, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, said the agency is stepping up its campaign against fake and substandard products through a
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), led by Director General Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, is combating the surge in counterfeit products using a technology-driven authentication system. At the 2026 World Standards Day celebration in Abuja, Okeke announced the Product Authentication Tracking System, allowing consumers to verify product genuineness via their mobile phones. This shift aims to bolster market surveillance, product traceability, and transparency, ultimately shielding consumers from unapproved goods.
Okeke emphasized the urgent need for businesses to stock and sell only products bearing the SON certification mark, warning that the survival of compliant manufacturers hinges on adhering to established quality and safety requirements. SON is transitioning from an outdated certification logo to a more recognisable design to facilitate consumer identification of approved products.
Beyond product authentication, SON has digitised its conformity assessment processes and introduced a digital standards platform, aiming to streamline transactions for legitimate traders and improve online access to standards. The agency's work spans various sectors, including energy management, transportation, food safety, and healthcare, providing benchmarks to protect consumers, facilitate trade, and enhance industrial competitiveness.
In a separate event, SON celebrated the first African Quality Mark Award, recognizing Nigerian companies and products that achieved continental quality certification. Okeke highlighted SON's approval of 80 energy-related standards in 2024, focusing on the compressed natural gas (CNG) ecosystem to support safe and reliable deployment of CNG as an affordable alternative fuel.
A goodwill message from Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib, President of Female Farmers Apex Cooperative Society Ltd, called for collaboration among SON, government agencies, financial institutions, and development partners to make clean energy technologies accessible and affordable for women farmers, livestock producers, and market traders.
She emphasized that empowering women in agriculture requires appropriate technology, infrastructure, and institutional support, stating that access to reliable energy could strengthen women-led agribusinesses and promote sustainable development.
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