Nigeria's National Accreditation System (NINAS) has achieved a significant breakthrough by securing international recognition that promises to transform the country's quality assurance landscape and boost cross-border trade.
Global Accreditation Achievement
The landmark development was formally announced during a high-profile event held in Abuja on 24 November 2025, where senior government officials, industry leaders, and international development partners gathered to celebrate the achievement. Under the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement, NINAS-certified bodies will now have their evaluations accepted across Africa and international markets through the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and the International Accreditation Forum.
Economic Impact and Benefits
Osita Aboloma, Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Quality Council, emphasized that this recognition validates Nigeria's ongoing implementation of its National Quality Policy. He described the achievement as evidence of Nigeria's pioneering efforts to strengthen its competitive position in regional, continental, and global trade markets.
Aboloma highlighted that accreditation serves as a fundamental component of the National Quality Infrastructure, which integrates standardization, conformity assessment, metrology, and market surveillance. He projected that this milestone would yield substantial benefits including enhanced global competitiveness, significant foreign exchange savings through increased use of local quality infrastructure services, improved human capacity development, and job creation across multiple sectors.
International Support and Collaboration
The achievement received crucial support from the UK-Nigeria Standards Partnership Programme, implemented through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the British Standards Institution. Hannah Barbosa, the UK's Director of Trade Policy and Market Access for Africa, stated that the collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to trade facilitation between the two nations.
Barbosa noted that NINAS' recognition under AFRAC reflects Nigeria's dedication to international standards and opens new opportunities for expanded UK-Nigeria cooperation across critical sectors including healthcare, food safety, and industrial services.
The event also featured prominent attendees such as Celestine Okanya, Director General of NINAS; Mark Smithson from the UK Department for Business and Trade; and Riccardo Benvenuti representing the Standards Partnership Programme.
Officials confirmed that this recognition will provide Nigerian laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification entities with enhanced global credibility, enabling businesses to operate with reduced compliance barriers and strengthening Nigeria's role in regional trade while building deeper confidence in the country's quality infrastructure systems.
