FG to create additional leather research centres across geo-political zones

THE Federal Government has announced its readiness to create additional Leather Research and Development Centres in other geo-political zones of Nigeria so as to complement the existing ones.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, announced this in Abuja during the matriculation and inauguration of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) North Central Regional Leather R&D Cluster Extension Centre and official training infrastructure.

He said the processes that would enhance the establishment of these centres had reached advanced stages, and it was expected to help strengthen greater grassroots participation in leather technology, thereby helping to stimulate more indigenous capacity for the ultimate benefit of the people.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the birth of a new national development order for the nation that would be science, technology and innovation driven.

Onu said this would help move the Nigeria economy from being resource based to become knowledge based and innovation driven, needed to lay a solid foundation for the transformation of the nation so as to attain the greatness she desired and deserved.

The minister emphasised that this was why the government had decided that it would create additional centres in other zones of the country, where none currently existed.

Earlier, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, whose message was delivered by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abuja Enterprises Agency, Malam Tukur Arabi, said leather was Nigeria`s second highest revenue source after oil, thus the need to diversify into Leather Value Chain (LVC).

“I believe it is the reason why the LVC cluster has been established to improve the value and promote awareness of leather as a prime resource in Nigeria,” he said.

He then encouraged all stakeholders to pursue vigorously the establishment of the centre, which would enable quality control over the hides and skin from the farm.

Acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NILEST, Dr Eucharia Ngozi Oparah, called on Federal Government to give the agency the needed support to carry out her mandate of training and research in the field of leather and leather products.

“For a sustainable growth in the leather and leather products’ national economy, the institution should also empowered and converted to a degree awarding institution because the highest qualification currently awarded by the institution is Higher National Diploma (HND)”, the DG stressed.