‘FG to promote industrialization through leather technology’

The Federal government has taken steps that will promote leather technology in the country and quicken industrialization process.

The Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said this at a ceremony were 70 trainees matriculated at the North Central Geo-political Zones Regional Leather Centre in Abuja yesterday.

Dr Onu said the commissioning of the leather training infrastructure would help to build the needed indigenous capacity that would enable the nation domesticate this vital technology.

According to the Minister, “this will also strengthen our capacity to convert our rich agricultural products into viable economic goods and services that we need for domestic consumption as well as to strengthen export earnings. This will help in job and wealth creation, help to restore national self- reliance and self-confidence, enhance prosperity and boost our economy”.

The Minister disclosed that the process of creating additional Leather Research and Development Centre in other geopolitical zones of the country where non currently exits has reach advanced stage. “It is expected that this would help strengthen greater grassroots participation in leather technology, thereby helping to stimulate more indigenous capacity for the ultimate benefits of our people”.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather Technology (NILEST), Dr. Eucharia Oparah said that the training is intended to address the short comings that are always encountered in the production process and hoped that the experience garnered at the training would be sustained.

According to the NILEST Chief Executive, “In a recessed economy such as the country is facing, there is no doubt that the d involvement of organized scientific and technological approaches would provide the much-needed palliatives”

At the occasion , the Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT Musa Bello Mohammed who was represented by the director Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mallam Tukur Arabi noted that “for Nigeria to achieve sustainable development through Science , Technology and Innovation (STI), it is imperative that we foster greater collaboration across the sector”.