Posts in category: Business

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.

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