SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: History & International Studies

CONTRIBUTORS:

Nwosu, F. P.
Emejulu, I.

ABSTRACT:

Standardization activities represent a very faithful reflection of man’s social, economic, cultural, technological and political concerns. Every nation being conscious of the welfare of her citizenry is obligated to regulate the standard of products used, produced and imported into the country. Nigeria which is believed to be the most populous black African nation has been turned into a dumping ground for substandard products and services by corrupt manufacturers (both local and foreign), importers and service providers. Nigeria is fast becoming a beehive of substandard products. This is as a result of the threat posed by influx of substandard products either domestically produced or internationally imported into the country. This accounts for uncountable deaths, monumental economic losses with its attendant socio-political implications. Thus, consumers are compelled to patronize imported fairly used products known as “Tokumbo”. Such products have gained wider acceptability given its genuineness, originality and durability over new products. This has placed the country’s economic, socio-political, and cultural life under the siege of substandard products, and thus posed great challenge to government, survival of local industries and the health of consumers, hence the establishment of Standard Organisation of Nigeria in 1971 to monitor the production, distribution and importation of products and services into the country. The Organisation also formulates standards for the country. Since its establishment, no detailed study has been made about the history, activities, achievements and challenges, this is what this dissertation tries to address. The study will also look into the problems encountered by the organisation in the performance of its statutory functions. The objectives of the study is also to enlighten the general public on the activities of the Organisation and take advantage of its existence in other to enjoy quality and standard products in the country. The research methodology adopted by the researcher in the course of this work is not based only on theoretical frame work or theoretical construct but also on actual interpretation of data and material collections. This study adopted qualitative method of data collection, supplemented by administration of structured interviews of selected officials of Standard Organization of Nigeria. Moreover, as a non – participant observer, the researcher needed to complement documentary evidence (secondary data) available to him with opinion of other interest groups and individuals, official government and private documents etc on the activities of the Organisation. In addition, the study adopted Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural and Technical( PEST) analytical pattern to elucidate issues and finally suggest ways of surmounting or circumventing these obstacles to enable the organization function effectively, efficiently and optimally. In the cause of the study, the researcher finds that the negative impact of poor funding, political instability, policy summersaults, inadequate man power, lack of equipments, epileptic power supply, inadequate mobility, corruption, ignorant of consumers on the activities of the Organisation and consumer’s right etc had impeded the effectiveness of the Organisation which has in turn greatly undermined consumer’s quest for quality assurances. If the above problems is addressed, the Organisation will be on its way to fulfilling its mandate