By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, (NILEST) Zaria in collaboration with Consultant, Sapeta Nigeria Ltd and other key stakeholders have trained 47 youth on footwear and leather products production to reduce unemployment and boost job creation.
Mr. Galadima Dauda, Chief Operating Officer, NILEST Enterprises, disclosed this during the graduation ceremony for North West beneficiaries of the programme at the weekend in Zaria.
He said the training, which is training-for-trainers, was conducted with support from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Sapeta Nigeria Ltd.
According to him, Al together, 500 beneficiaries, with 300 earlier trained, as well as an additional 47 beneficiaries, benefitted from the North West geopolitical zone and have graduated.
Dauda who did not disclose the number of beneficiaries from Kogi and Nasarawa states, said a significant number of beneficiaries received the training at Abuja.
He added that the training for beneficiaries from South West and South-South geopolitical zones would be conducted during the first quarter of 2023 due to the delay on the fund release.
The Chief Coordinating Officer added that each of the trainees received a starter pack which consisted of an industrial sewing machine, roughing machine, soul attaching machine and last (items used in the production of cover shoes).
“In addition to the starter pack, the beneficiaries also received N50, 000 to further empower them to kick start the production.
Earlier in his message, Prof. Muhammad Yakubu, Director-General of NILEST said the beneficiaries were given wonderful skills in footwear manufacturing to enable them be self employed or employers of labour.
The Director-General, represented by Dr. Jeremiah Tagang, Director of Leather Technology, urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity to utilize the skills and develop a career in footwear manufacturing.
He said, they should count themselves lucky for this golden opportunity they got out of the millions of people in the zone.
In his remarks, the Managing Director SAPETA Nigeria Ltd, Alhaji Abdullahi Hamza Yusuf said his consulting firm is only for the North-West Zone.
Yusuf advised the beneficiaries to be ambassadors of change by appreciating the gesture done to them when they go back to their stations.
The Managing Director further advised them to train others who were not opportuned to be at the training, so that more people will benefit from what they learnt during the two weeks training.
He commended the management of NILEST and the entire instructors who distinguished themselves in impacting skills on the graduands.
