ILAC Welcomes first Associate Member from West Africa

ILAC Welcomes first Associate Member from West Africa

The Nigeria National Accreditation Service (NiNAS) has been enlisted among other accreditation bodies in the world and first in West Africa as an Associate member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). ILAC is the international cooperation body for regional accreditation cooperation bodies which include African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC), Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Accreditation(SADCA), Arab Accreditation Cooperation(ARAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (AAC) and European co-operation for Accreditation (EA).

Attaining Associate membership of ILAC by any accreditation body is the highest membership status to be attained before being considered to sign the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). With this achievement, NiNAS is now not only recognized in Africa where she is already a Full Member of AFRAC but also globally. The NiNAS team is committed to the next stage of her development which includes peer evaluation and expansion into other scopes relevant to our economy.

Once NiNAS becomes a signatory to the MRA, any Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) accredited by NiNAS automatically gains a global recognition. What this means to the Nigerian economy is that products and services certified by a NiNAS-accredited laboratory or conformity assessment body will be accepted anywhere in the world. This holds a great potential to boost the Nigerian economy and change the global image of Nigerian products and services.

NiNAS Associate membership status can be confirmed on ILAC Official website and the News publication.

USP Country Chief of Party Visits NiNAS

USP Country Chief of Party Visits NiNAS

The Country Chief of Party of United States Pharmacopeia, DR. Chimezie Anyakora, visited NiNAS office as a follow-up on the previous meeting that both organizations leadership had in the month of April. The Chief Executive Officer of NiNAS received the Chief Party and both went into a closed door meeting. Discussed during this short visit at Abuja include among other issues, strategic partnership and collaboration in the area of building stronger quality culture in Nigerian laboratories through accreditation and related activities particularly in the pharmaceutical sector of Nigerian economy. The meeting ended with an indication for another meeting as soon as possible.

USP Country Chief of Party Visits NiNAS(1)
USP Country Chief of Party Visits NiNAS(2)
NiNAS celebrates WAD 2018 and Commissions new office

NiNAS celebrates WAD 2018 and Commissions new office

On Friday June 8, 2018, Nigeria National Accreditation Service celebrates world accreditation and commissions its new office located at No. 15 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria. The event was witnessed by several dignitaries and members of the press.  Click the picture below to see photo gallery of the event

WAD 2018 and Commissioning of NiNAS office
AFRAC

Nigeria National Accreditation Service Receives Full Membership in AFRAC

Nigeria National Accreditation Service, NiNAS, has been accepted as a full member of the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) after a thirty day ballot period by the AFRAC General Assembly voting members.
As full member of AFRAC, NiNAS now has the right to be represented at the AFRAC General Assembly and Committees, as well as participate in nominations and elections of the leadership of the General Assembly and all AFRAC Committees. With its new status, NiNAS has full access to all AFRAC documents.
NiNAS will be obligated to provide technical and administrative support to AFRAC leadership, comply with the Cooperation’s objectives, and promote the General Assembly and Mutual Recognition Arrangement Council and all AFRAC Committee resolutions.
AFRAC Full Membership is granted to legally established independent accreditation bodies that are appointed or recognised by their government or sub-regional block and are in operation in the African region. Full Members must have demonstrated that they are operating in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC guides and standards, the relevant international documents (ILAC and IAF) and the requirements of AFRAC.
NiNAS had been an associate member of the Cooperation from 01 May, 2017 until 29 May, 2018. NiNAS began accreditation assessment of laboratories in March 2018. A total of 14 Laboratories have been assessed with one accreditation Certificate issued while others are undergoing further reviews.
Nigeria National Accreditation Service was established in 2015 within the framework of National Quality Infrastructure Project for Nigeria (NQIP), funded by the EU and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). NiNAS is a national accreditation body that provides credible and cost-effective accreditation services for conformity assessment bodies i.e. testing and calibration laboratories, certification and inspection bodies, according to international ISO/IEC standards.