By
Mr. Christian U. Eboh– cu.eboh1@gmail.com
(UNIDO National Expert for Personnel Certification Systems Implementation, Aug. 2017 to Jul. 2018)
PREAMBLE
In Nigeria, professional practice and professionalism have developed over the years since independence in 1960. However, quality activities and programmes have been carried out using the available rules and regulations of regulatory and professional organisations which are national and a far cry from international standard hence they are neither recognized nor accepted internationally.
The challenges in the quality sector in Nigeria before the commencement of the National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP) for Nigeria were – absence of some major indigenous quality infrastructure institutions in the country; lack of commitment by all levels of government in creating an environment that promotes best quality practices in all sectors; and the uncoordinated activities, avoidable overlaps and duplication of efforts by various national regulatory bodies.
UNIDO’S VISIT TO IPAN ON DEVELOPMENT OF PCB IN NIGERIA
The journey towards the development of the first indigenous Persons’ Certification Body (PCB) in Nigeria started with the visit by a 2-man UNIDO NQI team comprising Mr. Yitbarek Kidane, International Lead Expert on Conformity Assessment and Consumer Protection and Dr. Shaukat Hussein Malik, International Expert on Metrology & Conformity Assessment to Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) Secretariat at Yaba, Lagos on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
During the visit, UNIDO specifically conveyed its approval to support IPAN in establishing a personnel certification body as per ISO/IEC 17024 (Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons). This International Standard has been developed with the objective of achieving and promoting a globally accepted benchmark for organizations operating certification of persons. Subsequently, the Institute accepted the offer and agreed to upgrade its Professional Examination Training programme into a Persons’ Certification Body. Then, IPAN President, Dr. Dahiru Adamu constituted a 5-man Committee headed by Mrs. Mary-Anne Adeeko on the establishment of Persons’ Certification Body in line with ISO/IEC 17024.
A personnel certification body is an organization that administers individual credentials. It develops criteria against which an individual needs to demonstrate competencies and ensures these criteria are demonstrable by applicants before certifying them. Most personnel certification body offer professional certification if an individual meets minimal requirements such as a minimum number of years of related working experience, minimum education level and having passed a certification exam or equivalent.
ACTIVITIES OF IPAN COMMITTEE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN
An Action Plan which was prepared by UNIDO International Expert and validated by the Committee was divided into four segments – Evaluation and Preparation Phase; Documentation of Personal Certification as per ISO 17024; Trainings, Competence Building and System Implementation; and Accreditation of Personal Certification System. Based on the agreed Action Plan and according to the requirements of ISO 17024, all the activities were executed by the Committee and later by the Management Representative, Mr. Christian Eboh under the technical supervision of Dr. Malik, UNIDO International Expert. The first critical and major achievement of the Committee was when IPAN-SoTLAN CONFORMANCE SYSTEMS LIMITED was issued a Certificate of Incorporation by the CAC on February 12, 2016.
Following the fulfilment of the legal requirement of the ISO 17024 Standard, Dr. Malik requested for a weekly meeting with the Committee in order to accomplish specific task, considering enormous work/time that was required for training, capacity building, writing procedures, finalising the quality manual and development of procedures for all applicable Clauses in the ISO Standard. Also, in order to enhance the speedy execution of the action plan and at the request of Dr. Malik a Management Representative, Mr. Christian Eboh was appointed to liaise with him on a daily basis and submit weekly report to the Committee.
Certification Scheme
This is actually the marketable product of a PCB, in line with ISO 17024: 2012 requirements, IPAN-SoTLAN PCB has developed the following three categories of certification – Certified Laboratory Analysts (CLA); Certified Water Analyst (CWA); and Certified Environmental Analyst (CEA)
Trainings, Capacity Building and System Implementation
To develop capable and competent personnel for system implementation, the following trainings were carried out by Dr. Malik – Training on ISO 17024 for thirty participants; Awareness training on ISO 17024 for members of the Board of Directors; Scheme Development; and Internal Audit as per ISO 17024 trainings.
In furtherance of the required capacity building and from 12th to 19th June 2017, the Management Representative, Mr. Christian Eboh undertook a Study Tour of management systems of three Certification Bodies in USA (National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, NCCCO; International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners, IBHRE and American Society for Clinical Pathology, ASCP Board of Certification) and a 2-day training at American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Washington DC on “Standards Training Course on Personnel Certification Accreditation: Understanding the Requirements of ISO/IEC 17024: 2012.”
These training and study tours were instrumental to the successful implementation the Procedures and Formats according to the Standard by Mr. Eboh upon his return to Nigeria. In addition, other activities which were carried out were – Website development by UNIDO; Internal Audit; closure of nonconformities raised during the Internal Audits; and Management Review.
Accreditation of IPAN-SoTLAN Personal Certification System
This was the climax of the establishment of IPAN-SoTLAN certification body and it involved a third party (accreditation body) verification of the implementation of procedures and systems to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024: 2012 Standard.
A very reputable Accreditation Body – International Accreditation Service (IAS), USA was contracted to carry out this all important exercise. The On-site and Follow-up Assessments were successfully conducted on 26th to 29th June 2018 and 4th to 6th February 2019 respectively. These exercises were followed by closure of nonconformities raised during the assessments. Presently, we are waiting for the ultimately the accreditation of the IPAN-SoTLAN Conformance Systems Limited as an ISO 17024 PCB and the issuance of Certificate of Accreditation which is the final outcome of the whole activities and processes.
CONCLUSION
As a result of the full implementations of all the systems as required by ISO 17024 Standard and consequent on its successful accreditation, IPAN-SOTLAN Conformance Systems Limited is poised and well positioned to contribute to the development of the capacities of laboratory analysts/analysis and quality infrastructure in Nigeria.
There is no gainsaying that NQIP has positively and tremendously impacted on capacity building of the Institute through various trainings of staff and members (Public Analysts) spread across the country; it has opened a new business line, improved IPAN’s operation and diversified IPAN’s services through the provision of person’s certification programme and well developed and competent workforce at its Secretariat; and the resulting spillover effects are now being felt not only among Public Analysts but by other stakeholders and Nigerian public.
Acknowledgement
My involvement in the NQIP and the milestones recorded above would have been impossible without the efforts, contributions and support of the following individuals and bodies – European Union (EU) for funding the project; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for successful implementation of the project; Chairman of IPAN Governing Council, Dr. Dahiru Adamu; Chairman of IPAN-SoTLAN Board of Directors, Mr. Francis Iruobe; the late IPAN Acting Registrar/CEO, Prof. David Oluleye who appointed me as IPAN focal point person for the project; former IPAN Acting Registrar/CEO, Mr. Duro Abdusalam; my efficient mentor and NQI Chief Technical Advisor, Dr. Shaukat Malik; members of IPAN 5-man Committee on Establishment of Certification Body – Mrs. Mary-Anne Adeeko (Chairperson), Dr. Femi Oyediran (CEO of IPAN-SoTLAN), Messrs. Samuel Ajayi and Emmanuel Odega; all members of various IPAN-SoTLAN Committees; and the amiable UNIDO NQI team/family.