Zulum promises to revive leather, hides sector to boost employment, IGR
Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has promised to resuscitate the leather and hides sector to boost employment and internally generated revenues (IGR) in the state.
According to him, the State has a comparative advantage of producing hides and skin, as the population of livestock stood at 11.7 million.
The governor made the pledges over the week, when the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST), Dr. Auwal Mustapha Imam visited him at the Government House, Maiduguri.
“The development of hides and skin, are critical in the roles they play by creating many job opportunities for herders and the unemployed women and youths,” he said.
“The value added chains in the two sectors, are enormous in the shoe and fashion industries,” noting that with a continued political will, significant transformation could be achieved in the leather industry of the country.
Zulum, therefore, commended Imam for upgrading the Institute’s Maiduguri Extension Centre.
Highlighting the state government’s efforts to revive the Neital Shoe Factory, he said: “We’ll support you to promote the development of the hides and skin sectors.
“With the high degree of seriousness, in the efficient processing of hides and skin into high-valued leather can also boost the shoes and bags industry to earn foreign exchange.
He, therefore, directed the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Tarpaya Asarya, to collaborate with NILEST in creating job opportunities for the unemployed youths.
He added that the partnership should promote capacity building to increase the added value chains in other sectors of the economy.
Zulum, also ordered the deployment of 60 state indigents to the Institute, in Zaria, Kaduna state, for training in leather technology, footwear designs and innovation. Reiterating the state government’s commitment, he said: “Being the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Leather Policy ((PCLP), we thoroughly study the policy document to explore opportunities in the partnership for economic growth and development of the country.” He also instructed the Director General of the Institute, to rebuild the destroyed perimeter fence of the Maiduguri Extension Centre.
Zulum also allocated two houses, at the Kashim Shettima Housing Estate for staff of the Institute. Imam told the governor that the Maiduguri Centre, has been upgraded to the North East Regional Centre (NERC).
He disclosed that Dr. Usman Ali Busuguma, is also appointed as the Northeast regional manager. Imam, therefore, expressed appreciation to the governor for the interest, he has in ensuring increased productivity in the leather and skin sectors of the economy.
