Abuja, Oct 12, 2009 (Leadership/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. John Akanya, has tasked Abuja-based fashion designers and garment makers to improve on the quality of their products so that they can be more competitive in the global market and gain further acceptability.

In his opening speech at the one-day sensitisation workshop for fashion designers and garment makers in Abuja, at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, yesterday, Akanya, however, pointed out that despite the shortcomings and challenges facing them, the Nigerian fashion designers and garment makers have been able to make beautiful garments preferred and worn by the country's movie stars, music stars and other celebrities, thus helping to project the country's good image and culture abroad.

He also urged them to avail themselves of such opportunities as the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States government as this will help attract huge foreign exchange earnings to the country.

Akanya, who was represented at the workshop with theme: "Quality-Promoting Made-In-Nigeria Garments", by the SON's director of standards, Mr. John Achuku, stated, "However, since quality is a moving target, a journey without an end, you must make deliberate efforts as practitioners to update your knowledge and keep abreast of modern trends in order to be more competitive.

"I feel proud to state that some of you in this fashion design and garment making industry have done very well particularly in kitting the Nigerian stars, making waves all over the world in Nollywood as well as the music industry in particular and other sectors in general, thus helping to positively project the country's image and our culture."

He told the participants that the federal government has commenced partnership with some agencies and parastatals, including SON to revive the ailing textile sector.

<<Leadership. Distributed AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). -- 10/13/2009>>