By Sulaiman AbduLLAH
Kaduna (Flowerbudnews): The North West Zonal Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Josephine Dayilim has urged Small Scale entrepreneurs in the zone to take advantage of the Agency’s digitalized processes to register and standardize their products.
Mrs. Dayilim made the call in Kaduna in a keynote address at the Multi-sectoral Sensitisation Workshop organized for the Agency’s Stakeholders in the Zone.
(Left – Right,: NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye with Director, North West Zone, Mrs. Josephine Dayilim)
Flowerbudnews learnt that the workshop was aimed at enhancing knowledge and information sharing with stakeholders in the State and to also serve as a catalyst for positive change in the business community and engaging with the stakeholders for feedback on the activities and policy direction of NAFDAC.
Mrs. Dayilim told the participants that the full digitalization of NAFDAC operations was one of the most timely and beneficial achievements of the Agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye with determination to assist growth of small scale businesses.
”Digitalization of all our registration processes (local and foreign) under the NAPAMS Online platform with significantly reduced timelines,” is a recent major success designed to benefit all NAFDAC stakeholders,the Zonal Director stated.
(NWZ Director, Mrs Josephine Dayilim delivering a keynote address at the stakeholders engagement workshop in Kaduna)
She also disclosed that ”Digitalization of all our (NAFDAC) import permits on the Online Nigerian Single Trade window platform had significantly reduced processing timelines.
(NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye with her NWZ Director, Mrs Josephine Dayilim at a function)
Mrs Dayilim said that the Decentralization of Registration of all MSME products, such as spices, liquid soaps and renewal of packaged water, from NAFDAC Headquarters to the Zones by Prof. Adeyeye had brought the Agency’s operations closer to the people at the grassroot level.
(Mrs. Amina Aloma making presentation on Good Warehousing Practice)
She noted that the decentralisation had helped reduces costs and timeline faced by stakeholders in zonal areas.
Mrs. Dayilim added that Institutionalization of Quality Management System and attainment of WHO – GBT -Global Benchmarking Tool Level 3. 5, were also remarkable achievements that had helped modernize NAFDAC operations and engagement with its stakeholders to the global standard.
(NWZ Director with stakeholders)
The NAFDAC Zonal Director said that the Agency’s had also achieved Traceability of all selected medicinal products using GS-1 Technology, from the factory to the user.
” With time, this technology will cover all regulated products as had already been assured by our Director General, Prof. Adeyeye,” Mrs Dayilim said.
She said however, noted that most of the achievements were being institutionalized through improved Welfare as well as training and retraining of all our staff etc, under the leadership of Prof. Adeyeye
”Ladies and gentlemen, I want to assure you that NAFDAC is here to collaborate with you to navigate the regulatory landscape together for optimum productivity and enhanced goods and services delivery,” She declared.
:’It is also important to note that certain processes and procedures have been put in place to reduce challenges faced by some of our stakeholders especially those into manufacturing like MSMEs,
‘:These includes, streamlined registration procedures and use of common facilities, reduction in tariff, discontinuation of use of consultants, small business support desk, one stop shop, decentralization of registration of certain regulated products to zonal levels, to mention but a few,” Mrs Dayilim stated.
Also speaking at the event, the Kaduna State Coordinator, Mr. Nasiru Mato (DD) emphasized the need for stakeholders’ engagement and getting feedback from them cannot be overemphasized, as one of the ways the Agency can get to achieve its mandate of safe guarding the health of the nation is through them.
He commended participants from all the sister Agencies and the media for their support and cooperation in helping the Agency achieve its mandate of safe guarding the health of the nation in the state.
(Representative of Nigeria Customs Service making contribution at the workshop)
The participants at the workshop were Captain of Industries in food and drug sector, Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria (ACPN), Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Agrochemical Dealers, Master Bakers, Arewa Bakers and Caterers Association, Chemical Sellers, Supermarket Operators, Fast Food and Quick Service Restaurants Operators and the MSMEs.
Other sister Agencies present were the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigeran Custom Service (NCS), Department State Services (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC).
At the Workshop’s Technical Session, Papers were presented by officers from the state office on the following topics: Good Hygiene Practice (GHP) for Master Bakers – Presented by Nasiru Mato (DD); Role of NAFDAC in the Regulation of Medicine Dealers – Presented by Chaskda Benjamin (CRO) Responsible use of Agrochemical – Presented by Idris Abdullahi (CRO)NAFDAC Guidelines for Product Registration – Presented by Enoch Iranyang (ACLT)Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) on Table Water – Presented by Mansur Abubakar (AD)Global Listing for Supermarket Items – Presented by Nuhu Shehu (PRO)
Good Warehouse Practice (GWP) – Presented by Amina Aloma (PRO)NAFDAC Registration Process on NAPAMS – Presented by Nuhu Shehu (PRO) (Flowerbudnews)
