For Nigeria to maximise its potentials as a global player in shoe production, it should create a a tunnel link between Kano and Aba where quality, skill and machinery from both markets could be combined to produce for export to the Western and international markets, says the Economist and Investment Expert, Sir Mac Atasie
Sir Atasie explained that while the Kano market export unprocessed leather to the international market thus earning very little, the Aba market produce but exports only to the African markets cheaply and equally earns little for the economy
Contending that the difference between selling at high or low price is the quality, cost, skill and machinery, he proposed that the country create a link between Kano and Aba to function as one company.
Atasie who was a guest speaker at the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology(NILEST) Leather day Technology and Innovation Expo 2022 held at Eagles Square Abuja, urged Nigeria to see leather as another big thing in the global market, just like oil.
He declared that without any shadow of doubt, Asia is number one in leather wares production with China alone producing 80% of the same product, reasons being that it makes use of the industrial clusters and their equipments
Sir Mac Atasie with Prof. M. K. Yakubu DG/CEO, NILEST |
“Automation of shoe making has paved the way for easy production of shoes and every other leather wear/ware", he said.
"If we can take 10% of what the developed world buys and 30% of what Africa buys, we can produce 1.66 billion pairs of shoes in a year. Today, Africa does less than 500 million pairs, we can earn 17 billion dollars from shoes in a year with NILEST, ENASCO etc, he affirmed
He added that though ”Nigeria is logically said to be poor but poverty is an advantage, it makes cost of labour low, we can produce cheaper and sell more than the foreign companies. The leather market is very large, we have over 7 billion people in the world with an average of three pairs of shoes. An average African wears one and half pairs, while an European 12 five to six pairs of shoes.
Without mincing words, through diversification, Nigeria can make 17 billion dollars a year in leather production, he proffered
Last year alone, Nigeria generated over 365 million dollars from the shoe industry, he noted
He further added that shoe making in Nigeria can be boosted by
bringing investors to invest in the leather industry where Aba will be home of shoe making in Nigeria and Africa, which could definitely play a vital role in achieving the aim of increasing the country’s income through leather productions.
He also spoke about the ecosystem which will deal on training and retraining, introduction of vocational training in schools, training people on how to use modern machines in making leather wears and wares, etc.
According to him, marketing is another way of letting the world know what Nigeria is doing in the leather world hence hinting on the importance of getting involved with those in the exportation business.bz
Highlights of the occasion include the exhibition of locally made foot-wears, artificial legs and school bags.
The event attracted the presence of Director General/CEO of NILEST, Prof. M. K. Yakubu, top management staff of the agency and the general public
Sir Atasie is the Chairman and CEO of Nextzon Business Services which has designed series of innovative digital products and services for State governments and corporate entities
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