Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have received a major boost in their quest to compete for bigger contracts and international markets, following the launch of a structured ISO certification programme by Neca’s Global Certification Limited (NGCL).
The Lagos-based internationally accredited management systems certification body unveiled “The NGCL Certification Pathway,” a three-stage programme designed to make internationally recognised ISO 9001 certification more affordable, transparent and accessible to small businesses.
The initiative addresses one of the biggest constraints facing Nigerian SMEs—limited access to globally recognised certification due to high costs, opaque pricing and concerns over the credibility of certificates issued by unaccredited providers.
For many SMEs, internationally recognised certification has increasingly become a prerequisite for participating in government procurement, supplying multinational companies and accessing export opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Yet many businesses have remained excluded because certification has traditionally involved unpredictable costs, payments in foreign currency and lengthy processes.
