The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has urged the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) to compile detailed statistics on the nation’s leather industry. This initiative aims to develop a strong business portfolio and unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
The minister made this statement in Abuja on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, during a courtesy visit by NILEST’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO), Dr. Avwal Mustapha Imam, and his team.
Minister Mukhtar emphasized the need for reliable industry data to support strategic planning and investments. He raised key questions regarding the state of Nigeria’s leather industry, including:
- How many companies are producing shoes in Nigeria?
- At what stage is Nigeria exporting leather?
- Are there raw material shortages in the sector?
- What is the production capacity in major leather hubs like Aba, Nnewi, and Sokoto?
- Who forms the primary market for leather products school children, women, or men?
He highlighted the massive domestic market potential, noting that Nigeria has over 250 million people, including about 40 million schoolchildren, creating a steady demand for leather goods such as shoes, bags, and accessories.
The minister also stressed the importance of gathering data on skin collection centers, the quantity of hides and skins produced during festive seasons like Sallah, and the sector’s revenue potential. He projected that with the right policies and investments, Nigeria’s leather industry could create over 700,000 jobs nationwide.
To achieve this, Mukhtar assured NILEST of full government support and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to transforming the leather industry into a globally competitive sector.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Avwal Mustapha Imam underlined the strategic importance of Nigeria’s leather industry, citing its strong export potential, job creation capacity, and ability to attract foreign investments.
“Nigeria has a vast livestock population, providing immense opportunities in the leather industry. However, discrepancies in production and consumption data remain a challenge,” he noted.
Dr. Imam outlined key areas of collaboration between NILEST and the Ministry, including:
- Developing Nigeria’s leather value chain
- Implementing the National Leather and Leather Products Policy
- Enhancing NILEST’s research and training capabilities in leather technology
He further revealed that, according to the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the leather sector has the potential to generate up to $1 billion in revenue by 2025.
To fully realize the leather industry’s economic benefits, Dr. Imam urged the Ministry of Livestock Development to work closely with NILEST in addressing industry challenges. These include improving local production capacity, addressing raw material shortages, and ensuring accurate industry data collection.
