Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH) has become the first Nigerian company to get the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation.
The managing director and chief executive officer of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Okon said at a press conference in Lagos that the certification was attained after one year of rigorous testing and auditing of the EATECH’s laboratory, personnel, and allied facilities to ensure they function and align with standards set by the Australian-based International Laboratories Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
He said getting the accreditation would help Nigeria save millions of dollars lost annually as capital flight in shipping critical and sensitive equipment in the aviation, oil and gas, and power sectors abroad for electrical, pressure, and temperature measurements.
“Before now, there was no laboratory that calibrates aviation equipment in Nigeria, but with this accreditation, we have provided the solution that will enable the aviation industry cut down on capital flight on equipment calibration abroad. We have also created opportunity for jobs and human capital development for Nigerians.
“We took over one year to get this ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard as the first laboratory globally accredited to carry out pressure, temperature, and low voltage calibration of equipment in Nigeria because we felt the need to invest in growing local content in the aviation, oil and gas, power, marine, and manufacturing sectors. And we are proud with the responses received from multi-national firms indicating interest and confidence to patronise us because results generated in Nigeria can now be recognised and accepted globally,” said Okon.
He also explained that EATECH was established as part of effort to boost local content in the oil and gas industry.
He added that in the last 10 years, the company had grown to own a fabrication yard in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, and a calibration laboratory in Port Harcourt which just got the ISO/IEC accreditation.
“We are so confident of improving international trade between Nigeria and other countries because test reports and certificates issued by our company can now be accepted anywhere without the need for further testing,” he stressed.
Okon commended staff of the company as well as officials of the Nigerian National Accreditation Service (NiNAS) for working assiduously to assist in closing all gaps and eventually getting the accreditation.
Meanwhile, NiNAS has lauded the management of EATECH for making the requisite investment to bag the accreditation, saying it would go a long way in boosting the quality of equipment calibration in the country.
“The management and staff of NiNAS congratulates Engineering Automation Technology Limited laboratory on the attainment of this enviable feat. This is a positive progress for the Nigerian economy and West African quality infrastructure,” said NiNAS on its website.
