- NILEST graduates 165 trainees on leather goods
By Mohammed Mohammed
The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, on Thursday in Abuja graduated 165 trainees on footwear manufacturing and leather goods processing/production across the country.
Meanwhile, the market share of the Nigerian manufacturers also in recent times has increased by 10%, about N65 billion leather and leather products transactions were estimated to have increased in excess of N450 billion for footwear and N200 billion for other finished leather.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi acknowledged that the leather industry forms one of the vibrant sectors in national economy development, contributing enormously to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the industry and country.
The potential of the industry he added, cannot be over be emphasised, as it is a great tool for job and wealth creation, infrastructural and national development, the Minister added.
Abdullahi, also said the industry through the deployment of science, technology and innovations has developed appropriate skills to implement suitable and sustainable end to end solutions for wealth and employment generation across the Leather Value Chain (LVC).
“The market share of the Nigerian manufacturers also in recent times has increased by 10%, about N65 billion leather and leather products transactions were estimated to have increased in excess of N450 billion for footwear and N200 billion for other finished leather.” The Minister said.
He explained that the reality about these developments in this sector is that 90% of the benefits goes to foreign countries while 10% goes into domestic accounts adding that the Ministry through NILEST is making frantic efforts to reverse the huge capital flight by putting together the first ever stand-alone national leather and leather products policy in Nigeria and its implementation plan.
Abdullahi, commended the institute for their initiatives and the rigorous process of selecting and empowering the 165 Nigerian youths as this would make them employable and eventually becomes employees of labour in the near future that would contribute to the socio-economic growth of the country.
Earlier, the Director General of the Institute Professor M.K Yakubu, in his welcome address, said the first-time trainees were simultaneously camped together in different zones for effective coaching and mentoring and the training programs was 80% percent practical and hands on.
The training program he added will assist in unlocking the enormous potentials existing in the leather sector for the benefit of the country.