SON Commends Dangote for Sugar Fortification
Dr. John Akanya, the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has commended the management of the Dangote Group for its efforts to meet the challenges of producing refined fortified Sugar in Nigeria.
Dr. Akanya gave this commendation recently in Lagos, shortly after leading a team of SON officials to inspect Dangote's
Sugar Ref~nery in Apapa. The inspection was to verify Dangote's level of compliance with the directive to fortify locally refined Sugar with Vitamin A. Vitamin A Sugar fortification is meant to enhance efforts to eradicate diseases due to Vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria.
The SON boss said that Dangote as an organization has encouraged SON in the battle to ensure quality and standard in Sugar production in Nigeria. He said it is encouraging that Dangote is not limiting its fortification efforts to Sugar but also extends to other products.
He noted that though fortification of refined Sugar with Vitamin A is a government policy, Dangote as a stakeholder has shown a lot of determination towards its actualization.
Said he, "We know because of the technicalities involved, there may be some hiccups, but we are very delighted at your efforts and what you have achieved."
He stated further that Dangote has demonstrated its interest in the Sugar fortification. "You have interest because you have invested, we are also interested because we want to protect interest that will make Nigeria move forward and we need every
Nigerian to work with us, and we want to encourage you on what you are doing," he declared.
Also speaking after the factory inspection, Mrs M. E. Eshiett, the Deputy Director of SON, commended Dangote's efforts so far on the fortification of its Sugar with Vitamin A. She, however, advised the organization to do a post sale analysis of its Sugar by collecting samples from the market for analysis in the laboratory to ascertain its Vitamin level after exposure to light and air, two major ways through which Vitamin can be lost.
She also urged Dangote to install a thermometer in its store, where imported Vitamins are stored before use to be able to ascertain and maintain the appropriate temperature required for the vitamins.
The General Manager, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Mr Maryould M. Elsunni, while speaking after the factory inspection stated thit the Dangote Group took the challenge of Sugar fortification with Vitamin A seriously because of its importance to the health of Nigerians. He said: "When you gave us the challenge on Sugar fortification, we took it and we are happy for what we have achieved, we probably have the best system for Sugar fortification in the world today," he boasted.
He added that Dangote pursued the Sugar fortification with Vitamin A seriously because the company is aware that the whole nation will benefit from the policy. "If Sugar fortification with Vitamin A helps in the reduction of Vitamin deficiency disease, the nation is a winner, our children are winners and Dangote is a winner," he said.
According to him, he will be personally delighted if Dangote's efforts held in the eradication of blindness among children in
Nigeria because as a father, he loves children and will want to do anything to help protect their future.
He disclosed that since the commencement of the fortification programme, Dangote Refinery has been training its staff to ensure that they know hoe to use the equipment for the fortification.
Mr Knut Ulvmoen, Dangote Group Managing Director assured the SON Inspectors that Dangote is committed to Sugar fortification with Vitamin A as well as the fortification of its other food products with important micro nutrients.
Mr Olakunle Alake, Executive Director, Strategic Services, Dangote Group who was also present at the factory inspection assured the SON team that Dangote remained committed to Sugar fortification with Vitamin A.
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