SON Certifies Two Ilorin-Based Water Companies, Urges Consistency in Quality Standards

 

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has awarded its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificate to two Ilorin-based companies, Intertech Engineering Service and Evian Global Investment Ltd, for their bottled water products—LAH Aqua Table Water and ARVAND Water respectively.

The certification, presented at SON’s Kwara State office in Ilorin, signifies official recognition of the companies’ compliance with national standards for quality, safety, and manufacturing practices.

It also grants both firms the legal right to display the MANCAP logo on their bottled water, a mark of quality assurance trusted by consumers nationwide.

Representing SON Director-General, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunoso Okeke, the Kwara State Coordinator of SON, Mr Ayeni Feyisayo Oyebola, described the certification as a responsibility, not a reward.

“When we certify a company, we are sharing in your responsibility. If anything goes wrong, SON will also be questioned,” he said. “That’s why we insist on consistent standards before approval. This is not just about compliance but about accountability.”

Oyebola recalled how SON once faced a major probe due to a substandard product it had previously certified. He urged the newly certified companies to maintain high standards.

“You are now moving from being just stakeholders to shareholders in this journey. We applaud your efforts, but certification is not the finish line—it’s the beginning of stricter scrutiny and greater expectations,” he added.

 

 

Also speaking at the event, Engr Alasan Ibukun of the SON Electrical and Operations Unit in Ilorin emphasized the importance of continuous quality control, noting that the certificate is valid for three years, after which revalidation is required.

“You are now under surveillance,” Ibukun said. “From your factory to your products on the road, we will inspect without notice. If we find that you no longer meet the standard, the certificate can be withdrawn.”

He warned that misuse of the MANCAP logo, especially by unauthorised or sister companies, would not be tolerated.

CEO of Evian Global Investment Ltd, producers of ARVAND Water, Mrs Olubukola Esther Femi Joseph, expressed deep appreciation for the certification, calling the journey “seamless but demanding.”

“Now that we have this certificate, I can market ARVAND with confidence. We promise not to drop the ball. This is a call to do even more to ensure public safety and meet the expectations of SON,” she said.

 

 

Mrs Joseph also thanked her family, particularly her husband, Dr Emmanuel Femi Joseph, whom she described as “my pusher and backbone.”

For Intertech Engineering Service, makers of LAH Aqua Table Water, the Managing Director, Mrs Ejiviese Falekulo, said the process tested the company’s commitment to standards.

“It wasn’t easy. SON officials came frequently, but we stayed the course. Now that we are certified, we understand that SON is not just a regulator—they are our partner. We will not relent in maintaining best practices,” she said.

She commended her team for their dedication and acknowledged her husband and colleagues for their support throughout the certification journey.

The MANCAP certification aims to ensure that locally manufactured products meet the minimum requirements of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS), safeguarding public health and promoting competitiveness in both local and international markets.

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