Post by Trade facilitator on Oct 18, 2018 6:01:26 GMT 1
It is not new that leather is used in the production of products like bags, upholstery, shoes, watch, belts etc.
Leather is part of an individual's daily use, ranging from the shoes and slippers we wear, our homes and cars seats, bags, belts, garments and lots more.
The uses and benefits of leather cannot be over-emphasized.
With Nigeria having one of Africa’s largest livestock population, it is not surprising that Nigeria is one of the countries known to provide the best hides and skin in the world today.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), identified leather as one of the few products having great financial value that is capable of replacing oil in the nation's economy.
Exotic leather can also be derived from crocodile, snake, zebra and ostrich skins.
Almost all the tanneries in the country are found in the North while the South provides a viable market for processed leather. It is therefore advisable that investors source raw materials for leather from the North.
Much of the hides and skins produced in the country are used in foreign countries where they are the preferred choice of international designers.
Sokoto red goat skin for example, is one of the world’s best and attracts huge attention and demand by world class fashion designers.
A developed country like Italy is undoubtedly a major consumer of Nigerian leather and a good number of the famous Moroccan leather is said to originate from Nigeria.
Nigeria's leather industry generates up to $750,000 annually running into billions of naira and has the capacity to create about 900,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Leather attracts good pricing in the international market as it is considered a durable material for household furniture and vehicle seats.
Automobiles seats come in leather and International Frontier airlines now use leather seats in its buses, a move they claim save them huge costs because they are lighter than other materials and therefore save costs on fuel.
The leather industry therefore presents a huge lucrative market that investors should take advantage of.
An entrepreneur with a good sense of business knows that both the local and international leather markets present irresistible opportunities for good business.
Also, in maximising the huge yields on leather business, you can start producing footwear and hand bag for the international markets, you may not design them yourself, you can hire someone to do the designs for you while you do the exportation.
The skin and leather industry generates jobs both on the farm and in the market. Another aspect of the industry is the processing of hides and skins into leather for export.
An advantage is the availability of large domestic and international markets for the absorption of leather products.
Though some investors in the leather business stop at the level of drying the coverings removed from animals. They supply the dry hides and skins to local tanneries.
But experts in the business hold that export of unprocessed hides and skins is often not lucrative at this level and should be strictly discouraged as the export value is very low.
In the North, the skins of slaughtered animals are skinned using proper flaying methods and knives, while in the South, the skins are roasted to produce ‘ponmo’ widely eaten and enjoyed.
It is known to be preferred by some people to other delicacies like beef, chicken and fish. These days, a pot of soup may not be complete without 'ponmo'.
Meanwhile, the deliberate policy to discourage the consumption of ‘ponmo’ and the wasteful roasting of animal skins will make hides and skins available for the industry. This move will lead to the establishment of tanneries in the Southern parts and increase the nation’s export earnings from leather.
Presently, the leather industry is inviting and warm for new investors to also benefit from the enormous potentials and gains of the leather business and smile to the bank.
