POLICY ON LEATHER RESEARCH: STEERING COMMITTEE MEETS INDUSTRY MINISTER. ..... To Chart New Course For Nigeria's Leather Sector

Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State, Industry in a handshake with Dr Auwal Mustapha Imam, Chairman of the National Steering Committee when the committee visited the Minister recently in Abuja.

.... As Minister Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Owan Enoh assures committee of his full cooperation.

..... Urges them to work closely with the Ministry to achieve greater milestones. 

.... Emphasizes that NILEST remains a pivotal institution in Nigeria’s economic transformation, providing critical research, training, and innovations that will shape the future of the leather industry.

Abuja, Nigeria: The Steering Committee on the Strategic Implementation Plan of the Leather and Leather Products Policy, alongside the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), have recently, held a crucial high-level advocacy meeting with the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Owan Enoh, at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), Abuja.

The high-level advocacy meeting, described as landmark engagement, is aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s leather industry for economic growth.

During the meeting, Senator Enoh reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the leather industry, acknowledging its critical role in job creation, economic diversification, and technological advancement. He urged the committee to document the challenges hindering the effective implementation of the Leather Policy and identify areas where the Ministry can intervene to provide strategic support.

A key highlight of the discussion was the Minister’s call for an alternative to Ponmo (processed cowhide), emphasizing the need to encourage its use in leather production rather than as food. He noted that by providing viable substitutes, Nigerians could be incentivized to redirect the use of hides and skins toward industrial and economic development.

The Honourable Minister assured the committee of his full cooperation, urging them to work closely with the Ministry to achieve greater milestones. He emphasized that NILEST remains a pivotal institution in Nigeria’s economic transformation, providing critical research, training, and innovations that will shape the future of the leather industry.

In his remarks, Dr Auwal Mustapha Imam, Chairman of the National Steering Committee, commended the Honourable Minister for his proactive approach and unwavering support for the leather industry. He highlighted the progress made in implementing the National Leather and Leather Products Policy, including skill acquisition programs, research advancements, and the establishment of 22 extension centres across Nigeria to empower leather value, chain actors.

The meeting also served as a platform to discuss key policy recommendations, including:

* Increased government involvement in fully actualizing the Leather Policy

* Inclusion of the leather sector in national MSME survival programs

* Single-digit interest loans for leather entrepreneurs through the Bank of Industry

* Collaboration with international partners to modernize Nigeria’s leather industry

* Strengthening campaigns to promote “Buy Made-in-Nigeria Leather Products”

* Creation of a $1 billion Leather Industry Venture Fund to scale up the sector

This engagement marks a significant step toward advancing Nigeria’s leather sector, unlocking its potential to compete on the global stage, and creating a more sustainable and economically viable industry.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Dr. Adebayo Thomas, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment FMITI and made available to Naij News Alert in Abuja.