Youth Must Embrace Innovation And Be Ready To Compete With The Rest Of The World - DG NILEST

  The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) in Zaria, Prof. MK Yakubu, e...

 

The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) in Zaria, Prof. MK Yakubu, emphasized the necessity for youth to be prepared to compete globally, especially in the ownership of our most commercially active cities.

He made this assertion during the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of the Zazau National Education Trade and Investment Summit (ZANETIS) at the Zaria Race Course over the weekend.

Prof. Muhammad Kabiru Yakubu explained that the Institute actively engages in innovative research projects and comprehensive training programs, benefiting numerous youths annually. He mentioned that before January 2021, there were 9 Extension Centers spread across the six Geo-Political Zones of the Country, namely Sokoto, Kano, Jos, and Langtang, Maiduguri, Afuze in Edo State, Iwaro-Oka in Ondo State, and Okwurdo in Imo State. However, the number of extension centers has now increased to 23 due to requests from some State Governments and legislators. Notable centers like Maiduguri, Sokoto, and Jos extension centers, along with the new ones being commissioned, are incorporated with facilities for the processing of hides and skin into finished leather. Each of these centers will have the capacity to produce between 1 to 5 tons of leather every week to cater for the local leather industry.

He noted that as the only Government-owned Leather Institute in the country, NILEST will continue to play its leadership role in driving the implementation of the National Leather and Leather Products Policy.

Prof. MK Yakubu called on all stakeholders, including researchers, industrialists, investors, government ministries, and all other agencies located in Zaria, to form a concrete relationship and collaboration that will lead to the rapid industrialization of Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna state, and Nigeria in general.

He further explained that the summit was conceived with the objective to showcase investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-allied activities to foster collaboration with leather research institutions to establish a standard shoe manufacturing and promote leather goods. He stated that the summit would also provide an opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas for nurturing new business ventures and industries.

In his speech, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, represented by the District head of Gubuci in Makarfi Local Government area of Kaduna State, Dr. Bello Lawal Yakubu, drew the attention of the people to remain calm and maintain law and order. Bamalli promised to provide all necessary support that would lead to the actualization of the industrialization dream stemming from the summit.