All posts by : Joshua Jegede

As the world marks this year’s World Accreditation Day today, the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS), has called for an urgent implementation of Nigeria Quality Policy which will drive and enforce accreditation across the country.

The Nigeria National Accreditation System, (NiNAS) has declared its readiness to support Nigeria to achieve food safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a responsible corporate organization, our top priority is the health and safety of our staff and the people we serve. In the wake of the sudden spread of the novel Corona Virus #COVID19 in Nigeria;  Nigeria National Accreditation System will be closed to the Public for in-person service/engagement starting Wednesday, the 25th of March to May 5th, 2020. We will remain  open 24/7 on emails. You can schedule virtual meetings or chats with any member of our team. We shall communicate new dates for already scheduled accreditations assessments and trainings from the month of May. We regret any inconveniences this may cause you. Please listen to instructions from the health Experts and the Government. Stay Safe!

The team from NISS were led by The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Victor O. Chude.

Both organisations discussed areas of mutual collaboration and strategic partnership, which included capacity building for membership of NISS in understanding International Standards relating to Soil Science laboratory standards, and provision of accreditation services in the areas relevant to NISS mandates.  

In the coming days, NISS and NiNAS will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU to firm up these discussions. It was a successful meeting and promises to be for our national interest and economic development.

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COO

NiNAS held a three-day assessor training on ISO15189:2012, from the 11th to the 13th of March at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja. The training was well attended and different professionals in the medical laboratory and pathology fields were present. Some attendees include representatives from Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), National Hospital Abuja, Cledron Health Limited Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Federal Medical Center Yenagoa (FMC), FMC Kastina, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), University Of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and Lautech Teaching Hospital.

The training was one out of the four series of trainings for prospective assessors. The aim of this training was to enlighten participants on the requirements for competence in medical laboratory services in accordance with ISO 15189. Furthermore, participants were given an insight on the practical approach for implementing the relevant ISO standard and key concepts in actualizing an efficient quality management system which serves as prerequisite for accreditation of clinical laboratories. 

The training had interactive sessions where the professionals shared their views and experiences in related areas especially quality assurance in the healthcare sector. Participants also shared their suggestions on how to implement these standards in their specific areas and places of work.

At the end of the training, the participants expressed their satisfaction in the training especially the interactive training approach and trainer’s ability to explain the ISO standards in simple terms,  relating them to routine activities in the laboratory. Having concluded the first phase of the assessor training programme, the participants are qualified to proceed to the second phase of the four-stage training to become qualified assessors on the relevant standard.

Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) has been officially admitted as an MoU member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) with effect from March 9, 2020.

The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited.

The attainment of this membership has put the accreditation activities of NiNAS on the global scale with far reaching impact and benefits to Nigeria economy and her trading partners. By extension, NiNAS can now provide services to certification bodies. The ripple effect will be the boost in the quality of goods and services in Nigeria. Improved quality of products and services has a direct relationship with Nigeria’s competitiveness in trade. This is therefore a step in the right direction for Nigeria as the second largest economy in Africa.

NiNAS’s team is working hard to attain MRA membership status in all scopes of our accreditation services.

The Inauguguration of the new board of Nigeria National Accreditation System was successfully conducted today, Wednesday, 4th March, 2020 at the Newton Park Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.

The establishment of the new board is part of the requirements of the international ISO17011 standard for Accreditation Bodies. With this development, NiNAS has fulfilled all the legal requirements to operate as a National Accreditation body with international recognition.

This is a big boost to the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and the regional accreditation system in Africa.

Membership of the new board cuts across both public and private sectors of the economy with representatives from NACCIMMA, NASME, MAN, SON, NAFDAC, NESREA, FCCPC, FMITI, IPAN, MLSCN and FISAS. This combination has given NiNAS a strong footing and strategic positioning.

Executives from The Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) paid a courtesy visit to the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) on Thursday, February 20, 2020. NIFST is the only Registered Non-Profit Making Body representing Food Professionals drawn from the Academia, Industry, Government and Research Institutes in Nigeria.

The purpose of the visit as mentioned by the Chairperson, Veronica Eze, was to understand how both organizations can collaborate and derive mutual benefits for each other which will impact positively on the Nigerian economy.

In the course of the meeting, the DG of NiNAS, Mr. Celestine Okanya talked about how strategic NIFST is to the quality infrastructure of the nation describing them as “major stakeholders”. Hence, fostering a good relationship with NiNAS is not just mutually beneficial but also key to building the nation. He went on to speak about possible partnerships in Trainings related to ISO standards that concern food technology stating that this would definitely grow NIFST membership base.

At the end of the meeting, the DG expressed his profound appreciation to NIFST for the visit and they in turn expressed their gratitude and promised to build on the relationship.