Nigerian leather institute to establish tannery centre
The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) is said to have concluded its arrangement for the establishment of a leather tannery centre in the town of Idah, Kogi state, in the middle belt region of Nigeria.
In a statement to local press, NILEST Head of information and protocol, Remi Basorun, said Professor Mohammed Yakuba, Director general of NILEST, along with members from the management board, visited the intended site of the centre earlier in the month.
The statement went on to say that the Nigerian leather sector was the largest non-oil foreign exchange earner but that its potential had not been fully explored to the advantage of national development.
According to Professor Yakuba, NILEST is hoping to set up more tannery centres in the country to meet its trade volume target of $1 billion by 2025. The established tanneries would be used to convert locally available hides and skins into finished leather for both export and domestic use.
Local communities would be set to benefit as youth groups, women and the vulnerable would be trained and empowered in the process.
