The quality assurance center in Ogun, managed by Afreximbank, has been internationally accredited.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that its first African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), located in Ogun State, Nigeria, and developed in partnership with Bureau Veritas (BV), has received the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). SANAS is a leading accreditation body in Africa, responsible for conducting conformity assessments under South Africa’s Accreditation for Conformity Assessment, Calibration and Good Laboratory Practice Act (Act 19 of 2006).

ISO/IEC 17025 is an internationally recognized standard for testing and calibration laboratories, setting the requirements for competence, impartiality, and consistent operations. This accreditation enhances the credibility of testing and calibration results by ensuring accuracy and reliability. Compliance with this standard demonstrates a laboratory’s commitment to quality, technical expertise, and scientific rigor.

Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, commented on the accreditation, stating that it validates AQAC’s capabilities and expertise, opening up new opportunities to broaden the center’s influence. “By adhering to international standards and best practices, AQAC is well-positioned to attract new clients, forge partnerships with industry stakeholders, and contribute to the enhancement of quality assurance practices in Africa,” Doherty said. She also noted that the accreditation’s impact extends beyond the laboratory, contributing to the overall improvement of quality assurance practices in Nigeria. This will help reduce rejection rates for Nigerian and African exports. Afreximbank has committed up to $100 million for the development of new AQACs across the continent, with potential projects in Benin, Chad, Gabon, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Jean-Michel Perret, Managing Director of Bureau Veritas Nigeria, expressed pride in achieving the ISO 17025 accreditation for AQAC. He emphasized that this milestone reflects a steadfast commitment to providing the highest standards in testing and inspection services. It also underlines the dedication to supporting Nigeria’s AgroFood industry in meeting international quality standards, thus facilitating greater access to global markets for “Made in Africa” products.

The accreditation from SANAS strengthens AQAC’s capacity to provide internationally accredited services for food and agricultural products, creating a more reliable and robust testing environment in Africa. SANAS is a signatory to the International Accreditation Forum, giving it worldwide recognition for independently evaluating certification bodies against established standards. It is also a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangements, the African Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangements, and the SADCA Mutual Recognition Arrangements for specific scopes.