News in Brief:
– The Nigerian government aims to revitalise its leather industry, seeking detailed data to drive growth and achieve a projected $1 billion in revenue by 2025.
– This initiative emphasises collaboration between government and industry stakeholders to enhance the leather value chain and create substantial employment opportunities.
Nigeria’s federal government has launched a decisive push to revitalise its leather industry, aiming to unlock its vast economic potential and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the call for comprehensive data to drive a strategic overhaul of the sector.
He stated this during a courtesy visit from the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) delegation led by its Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO), Dr Avwal Mustapha Imam, recently.
Maiha reiterated the critical need for accurate statistics. He claims that the government wants to expand the country’s value chain in leather production, but requires accurate statistics to reach this goal. He further inquired about the different facets of the industry.
“How many companies are producing shoes in Nigeria? At what stage are we exporting leather? Are we facing raw material shortages? What is the level of production in key hubs like Aba, Nnewi, and Sokoto? Who constitutes the primary market – school children, women, or men?” he asked.
Additionally, the minister highlighted the significant domestic market, citing Nigeria’s population of over 250 million, including approximately 40 million schoolchildren.
He also stressed the importance of data on skin collection centres, the quantity of hides and skins generated during festive periods, and the sector’s revenue potential.
Job creation and economic potential
Meantime, Minister Maiha projected that with strategic investments, the leather industry could generate over 700,000 jobs nationwide. He assured NILEST of the Ministry’s full support and collaboration to develop a globally competitive leather industry.
Subsequently, Dr Imam underscored the strategic importance of the leather sector to Nigeria’s economy. He cited its substantial export earnings, job creation potential, and conducive environment for sustained growth.
“Nigeria has a vast livestock population, providing immense opportunities in the leather industry. However, discrepancies in production and consumption data remain a challenge,” he noted. He also outlined key areas of potential collaboration with the Ministry, including:
- Development of Nigeria’s leather value chain.
- Implementation of the National Leather and Leather Products Policy.
- Strengthening NILEST’s capacity for training and research in leather technology.
Furthermore, the institute’s boss revealed that the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) projects the leather sector could generate up to $1 billion in revenue by 2025. Therefore, he urged the Ministry to work closely with NILEST to address challenges that hinder the industry’s contribution to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
