By Remi Basorun
Prof. M.K Yakubu, DG/CEO NILEST, led the management of the Institute on a high-level advocacy visit to the Executive Governor of Borno State His Excellency, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum in his Office in Maiduguri.
Intimating the host, the DG informed that the visit was necessitated by the collaboration role being played by NILEST as part of it’s mandate in helping to achieve the diversification of the economy efforts of the federal government, the need to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country through job and wealth creation
Prof. Yakubu informed the Governor that the NILEST Maiduguri Extension Centre established in 1972 as a heavy leather manufacture centre, has trained and empowered many Borno State Youths, women, retirees and other vulnerable groups on Footwear wear and leather goods manufacture in the past. He hinted that 30 youth were trained and empowered two years ago, and plans are still on for more to benefit from the training
According to him, in order to complement the State Government’s efforts in skills acquisition and entrepreneurial training for the IDPs and the teeming unemployed youth in the State, and to further join the government in the campaign to discourage consumption of hides and skins as delicacy, NILEST has built a tannery with the capacity to process 5tons of Heavy Leather a week with anticipated 400 pieces of hides and skin daily. It will commence production in the next two months, and a lot of jobs will be created for the youths. Hence, strategic collaboration between the Institute and the State Government is necessary
In response, the governor thanked the DG and his management team for the visit, which he described as timely and important. Prof. Zulum informed that NILEST’s role in improving the economy of the state and Nigeria in general is strategic, and the state is ready to partner with the Institute, especially in the area of R&D and training. All the state’s Executive Council members and other stakeholders in the leather sector attended the meeting
