Nigeria is doing very well in many ways to span its scope of development. Its name; giant of Africa, is not just an identification of the African most populace nation but a definition of a country that excelled in many sectors, fields, and with versatile experienced people on its track the making of leather to become the main revenue source of the country is becoming true.
One of the lucrative sectors of this country is the leather industry, and Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) is giving its wonderful contributions in achieving the Nigerian vision in terms of economic diversification and improvement for the country. NILEST improves job opportunities and by so doing breaking the manacles of insecurity challenging the peace of and the growth of the nation.
The leather institute is a $390 billion worth market” and is the most effective market for both the rural and urban people. The market of leather is most accessible in both the rural and urban communities.
The Director general of NILEST, Professor Kabir M. K Yakubu, is up-to-the-task of evolving and turning Nigeria’s leather into wealth creation for all. With his diverse knowledge and technical know-how, the NILEST DG is creating multiple ways for youths empowerment, jobs creation, revenue generation for all the states and the federal government and the Nigerian vision of a developed country is closer. With the target of NILEST, Nigerians will never be unemployed.
On the World Leather Day, 18th of January, this year, the DG of NILEST said leather has become the major means of livelihood of many Nigerians, adding that the product is one of the biggest means of revenue competing with crude oil. With the training and retraining of Nigerian teachers and students nationally and internationally by NILEST, more potential of leather are coming to eradicate poverty from all parts of the country.
In its effort to carry all the parts of the country along and have eyes in every nook and cranny of the country, NILEST has nine extension centres in the six geo-political zones of the country to meet the yearnings of the people and the country. The centres are in Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos, Lantang, Afuze, Edo state; Iwaro Oka, Ondo state; Okwudor, Imo state, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In the quest to expand the activities of the institute, Professor Kabir initiated new centres in Tambuwal, Sokoto state, Kwoi, Kaduna state, Oha-Zara, Ebonyi state, Funakaye, Gombe state, Koko, Kebbi state, Orogun, Delta state, Naki Gori, Plateau state, Ngor-Okpala, Anambra state and Daura, Katsina state.
The good side of NILEST in wealth creation is the processing of hides and skins into leather products. This development has stopped the importation of leather into the country. The concept has increased the demand of made in Nigeria leather because Nigerian leather is the best.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim,
Kaduna, Kaduna state
