All posts by : Joshua Jegede

NiNAS evaluates the competence of medical laboratories for accreditation using the ISO 15189 standard. Considering the role medical laboratories play in the healthcare system of the country, NiNAS has taken measures to raise the awareness on the accreditation of medical laboratories. One of the measures taken is the organization of a 3-day training course for prospective assessors and laboratory medicine practitioners.

This training is the first in the series of a 4-stage training programme for assessors that will participate in accreditation activities. It will enable participants to gain knowledge of the requirements for competence in medical laboratory services as defined by the aforementioned Standard. Participants will also learn key applications of the Standard as well as understand the key concepts for implementing a quality management system which serves as a prerequisite for accreditation of clinical laboratories.

The training course is open to those who are currently active practitioners in medical laboratories and those with previous laboratory assessment experience. The eligible participant must be active on the bench and willing to involve in the assessment of medical laboratories using ISO 15189:2012 as a basis for accreditation. Attendance are expected from Clinical Microbiologists, Chemical Pathologists, Hematologists, Anatomic pathologists and other sub-specializations.

Training information

• Date: 11^th to 13^th March, 2020.
• Venue: Chelsea Hotel, Plot 123 Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja.
• Time: 9am daily.
• Cost: N 150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira) only for the 3-day training course.

For more information, visit https://ninas.ng/our-services/training/  or contact k.esemonu@ninas.ng

The Director General and Chief Executive of Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS), Celestine O. Okanya has been confirmed as the Chairman of Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI) on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Mr. Celestine will be assuming the chairmanship role in March, 2020.

PAQI was officially inaugurated on the 30th of August 2013 by the Director for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, where members comprising of the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC), the Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS), the African Electro-technical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) and the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) formalized their cooperation as members of the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

The mission of PAQI is to strengthen the regional and global competitiveness of Africa’s goods and services and contribute towards an improved quality of life for the African people through prudent use of standards, measurements, conformity assessment and accreditation.

One of the ways PAQI strive to achieve its mission is through the development and implementation of African policies on Standards, Measurement, Conformity Assessment and Accreditation that supports the realization of Africa’s Economic integration and environmental sustainability.

NiNAS wishes its Director General success in this huge continental assignment. We are confident that he will make remarkable impact in this new and well-deserved appointment.

Representatives of Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) led by the Director General, Mr. Celestine Okanya, paid a courtesy visit to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) on Tuesday February 4, 2020.

The purpose of this visit was to establish a partnership between NiNAS and RMRDC to drive the nation and its economy to a point of global recognition across all standards.

In the course of the meeting, the DG of NiNAS stated the importance of having strong institutions like the RMRDC to rely on as regards national and economic growth, then went on to explain the role of NiNAS in this pursuit. He sighted NiNAS as a “Support Arm” with the sole responsibility of ensuring that every other Agency, especially Conformity Assessment Bodies involved in the provision of quality related services are in line with International standards. Mr. Okanya also mentioned the wealth of raw materials possessed by the nation and the role played by  the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) from the production phase to the export phase as finished goods. He went further to state that the magnitude of work involved in the development process of these raw materials coupled with harnessing the available opportunities would be heavy on the council and on this note extended a hand of friendship to them. He promised to work closely with the council in some of those areas, ensuring that the RMRDC  functions remarkably well to the point of being compared with peers abroad.

The Director General of RMRDC, Prof. H.D. Ibrahim, stated that the mandate of the council is a wide one but can be narrowed down to areas where both parties can function as partners. He also expressed his joy following the positive accreditation status of their laboratory. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of a research based institution like RMRDC having an established laboratory that can serve SMEs and Small scale manufacturers in terms of processing their export products. In this regard, he is certain that both organizations can be good partners in ensuring the existence of such laboratories, and if already in place, the accreditation process can be advocated for until the council can become a reference point. Other possible avenues for partnership as mentioned by Prof. Ibrahim include training and capacity building, establishment of Structure(s) for Personnel-Certification Programs and Promotion of raw materials research and development industries.

At the end, Prof. Ibrahim expressed his profound appreciation to NiNAS and took the team on a tour to their resource center.

Through the support of the World Bank Group’s Nigeria Improving Business Environment for Prosperity (NIBEP) Program funded by the UK Prosperity Fund, NiNAS is pleased to announce supplementary training to upgrade both the skills of NiNAS assessors and laboratories quality managers that are engaged in the accreditation process.

The five-day training will focus on changes to the laboratory standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017, as well as certain additional topics identified by NiNAS assessors and the laboratory community as challenging. 

There will be three sessions:

April 8-12 in Lagos

April 15-19 in Lagos

April 22- 24 in Abuja.

NOTE: This training is ONLY open to invited ASSESSORS and QUALITY MANAGERS.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TERMS OF REFERENCE: AFRAC FEASIBILITY STUDY INTO THE INCORPORATION OF AFRAC

The African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) is requesting proposals from qualified entities for bidding for the feasibility study of AFRAC incorporation. Visit AFRAC official website for more details or DOWNLOAD the TERMS OF REFERENCE

Central Laboratory, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research is the latest Testing laboratory to be enlisted as a NiNAS-accredited laboratory. The laboratory has been accredited for  ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard based on the corresponding scope of operation.

The Management and staff of NiNAS hereby congratulates Central Laboratory, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research on the attainment of this enviable feat. The attainment of accreditation by this laboratory has brought the total number of accredited laboratories by NiNAS to thirteen. This is a step in the right direction for the Nigerian economy.

Happy Birthday to the Iron Lady of NiNAS, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Member, Board of Trustees of NiNAS and The National President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture NACCIMA….

Boulos Enterprises Limited is the latest testing laboratory to be enlisted as a NiNAS-accredited laboratory. The laboratory has been accredited for  ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard based on the corresponding scope of operation.

The Management and staff of NiNAS hereby congratulates Boulos Enterprises Limited on the attainment of this enviable feat. The attainment of accreditation by this laboratory has brought the total number of accredited laboratories by NiNAS to eleven. This is a step in the right direction for the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria National Accreditation Service (NiNAS) paid a courtesy visit to the National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) on Friday, 7th December, 2018. The visit was necessary considering the strategic role NAQS plays in the Nigerian economy. Hence, the management of NiNAS deemed it fit to find areas of collaboration between the two organisations. This collaboration will go a long way to add value to the National Quality Infrastructure through the advancement of accreditation.