Nigeria To End Raw Hide Exports, Focuses On Finished Leather Goods

News in brief:

-FG is repositioning Nigeria’s leather industry to create jobs, expand exports, and strengthen livestock value chains, with Kano as the hub for transformation.

-The plan includes certification training for youth and women, modernised tannery operations, and large-scale fodder production to boost meat, dairy, and leather output.

Nigeria’s leather industry, once a global pride, is set for a major revival as the Federal Government announces bold plans to transform livestock and leather into engines of economic growth, export diversification, and mass employment.

At the heart of this initiative is Kano, long regarded as the country’s commercial hub for hides, skins, and livestock. The government says the city’s rich history in tanning and processing, combined with its irrigation dams and skilled workforce, gives it the right foundation to lead this transformation.

Leather as a Pathway to Jobs and Exports

Speaking in Abuja while receiving delegations from the Kano Chamber of Commerce, the North West Development Commission, and the Society for Grassland Research and Development in Nigeria, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said Nigeria must move away from exporting raw hides and skins to producing finished leather products.

“With over five million school-age children in Kano alone, there is already a huge domestic market for leather shoes and related goods,” he said. “If we expand and modernise our tannery operations, not only will we provide affordable, quality products for Nigerians, but we will also position our leather industry as a global competitor.”

Leather goods such as shoes, bags, belts, and industrial products already have a growing demand worldwide, and Nigeria’s ability to tap into this market could unlock billions of naira in foreign exchange earnings.

Training Youth and Women for the New Livestock Economy

As part of the revival plan, the Ministry is developing training programmes certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). These curricula will cover feedlotting, fodder compounding, dairy, and leather works.

The Minister explained that the initiative will empower at least 1,000 young people and women in every state with skills that open doors to finance and decent jobs. “We want to create an army of skilled workers who can drive this transformation, from the farm to the finished product,” he said.

Harnessing Fodder, Meat, and Dairy

Maiha also stressed that the revival of the leather industry must go hand-in-hand with improvements in other parts of the livestock value chain. He pointed to Kano’s irrigation dams and favourable environment for pasture as opportunities for large-scale fodder production.

Fodder refers to plants grown specifically for animal feed. By producing more locally, Nigeria can reduce the rising cost of livestock feed, boost meat and milk production, and even export surplus to feed-deficient countries in the Gulf.

“Leather is our entry point, but fodder, red meat, and dairy must be developed alongside,” the Minister said. “Clustering feedlot operators, processors, and marketers will ensure integrated growth.”

Stakeholders Pledge Support

The visiting delegations pledged to work with the Ministry in achieving this vision, noting that livestock development is not only about agriculture but also about driving regional economies, creating jobs, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

With this renewed push, farmers, herders, processors, and entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s livestock and leather value chain may soon find new opportunities opening up both locally and internationally.