The Bureau Veritas, an international certification body, on Tuesday officially presented the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001: 2015 certificate.
According to the ISO, ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a quality management system when an organization needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
It is also for an organization that aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system, including processes for improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Speaking at the ceremony in Lagos, the LCCI President, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, LCCI President, said the certification was in line with the primary objective of the chamber to promote, support, or oppose legislative or other measures affecting trade, industry, commerce, and agriculture.
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She said that the feat reflected the chamber’s commitment to consistently ensuring its alignment of quality management systems with global best practices.
Mabogunje said that the certification had put the LCCI at par with internationally recognized standards.
“The journey in the quest for the ISO 9001:2015 certification began in September 2018, under the leadership of the former president, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase (FCA) who approved its commencement.
“It is therefore most heart-warming and delights that the LCCI has met the requirements for the ISO 9001:2015 certification after several months of hard work and preparation.
“It demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in our service delivery, the value proposition to members and the business community in general,” she said.
Mabogunje said that the LCCI, in keeping to its vision to remain a role model, became the first chamber of commerce in West Africa and the second in Sub Saharan Africa to be ISO certified.
“With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, our processes have been tested.
“We know without a doubt that the certification made it easier to improve on our level of efficiency, cost-reduction measures, and overall productivity.
“It also enabled us to adapt to the new normal in our decision-making processes and our digital transformation into the virtual space for business and operations,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr. Ohioze Unigbe, Managing Director, Bureau Veritas, said the certification brought the LCCI in line with globally accepted and accredited quality management system.
Unigbe stated that the certification was a monumental achievement for the chamber, as it was one of the first to get certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
“The standards help companies grow, and when they start growing, they need to embrace global standards and practices to aid that growth, and this is what this certification does.
“It helps companies position themselves for that big growth they are experiencing and expecting.
“I think this is a monumental achievement and I will like to congratulate all the stakeholders involved.
“The chamber is one of the first chambers of commerce to get certified to ISO 9001 standards.
“This is no easy feat, LCCI made it look easy, but I can guarantee you it is not an easy feat,” he said.