The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Analytical Laboratory (D. K. Olukoya Central Research and Reference Laboratories) in collaboration with the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) organised a 3-day awareness and implementation training course on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Technologists of the University. The Training commenced on Monday, March 1, 2021 at the D. K. Olukoya Central Research and Reference Laboratories, UNILAG.
The University took this step to be globally competitive in its laboratory processes, with emphasis on utilizing best practices in the D. K. Olukoya Central Research and Reference Laboratories of the University of Lagos.
The ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). Both the ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) develop joint ISO/IEC documents under the management of the ISO Committee on Conformity assessment (ISO/CASCO) in the field of conformity assessment.
The ISO/IEC 17025:2017, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, is the main ISO standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. It prescribes the management and technical requirements needed by laboratories to demonstrate competence and generate quality results.
The Director, D. K. Olukoya Central Research and Reference Laboratories, UNILAG, Professor Wellington A. Oyibo, in a remark, expressed high hopes of participants in the training gaining enough knowledge to attain ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Auditor level. He averred that the training will pave way for the accreditation of the University’s research laboratories, as it will facilitate the development of a standard laboratory management system, application of process-based approach, to mention a few.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS, lauded the initiative and appreciated the Director General/Chief Executive Officer, NiNAS, Celestine Okanya and his team for their part in the actualisation of the training course. He disclosed that a move such as this is in alignment with the University’s drive for research, innovation, creativity, breaking barriers and charting new frontiers.
UNILAG Technologists who partake in the training course, which will feature lectures, group exercise and interactive sessions, will have their knowledge assessed through pre- and post-training tests on the NiNAS Learning Management System (LMS). Certificates of competence in interpretation and application of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 will be awarded to qualified Technologists at the end of the training.
