The Standards Organization of Nigeria has charged leather stakeholders to latch on the global leather industry worth over $1tn.
The director general, SON, Ifeanyi Okeke, made this known on Thursday, in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, at a stakeholders sensitization/capacity building workshop, organized to enlighten artisans and other manufacturers on the need to standardize their products.
According to him, SON has keyed into repositioning the leather sector in Nigeria, paving the way for local manufacturers to tap into the lucrative global leather and textile market valued at over $1 trillion.
Okeke said the workshop is a result of SON’s strategic efforts to promote standardization and quality assurance in the leather and textile industry.
He said SON has been working closely with stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies, to ensure that Nigerian leather and textile products meet international standards.
Okeke, who was represented at the forum, by the director of South-East Regional Operations of SON, Chukwuma Aharanwa, noted that in recognition of MSMEs, as drivers of the nation’s economy SON has put in place a policy that ensures that MSMEs and other relevant stakeholders are involved in standards development process, through inclusion in technical committees.
According to him, SON’s intervention has led to a significant improvement in the quality of leather products in Nigeria.
He said local manufacturers are now producing high-quality leather goods, such as shoes, belts, and handbags, that can compete favorably with international brands.
The SON boss said the repositioning of the sector is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy. The sector is projected to create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, and generate significant revenue for the government.
He expressed optimism about the development, stating that “Nigeria has the potential to become a major player in the global leather industry. With the right standards and quality assurance in place, our local manufacturers can produce high-quality leather products that can compete with the best in the world.
Okeke said the successful repositioning of the leather sector is a testament to SON’s commitment to promoting standardization and quality assurance in Nigeria.
According to him, he is motivated by the spirit of the renewed hope agenda to support the economy with local investors.
“This can be achieved by creating a framework that can make a made-in-Nigeria product compete favorably.
“We decided to rain them on anti-trade barrier Standardization and quality assurance, accessibility to standard.
“One of the key elements to trade is standards, it’s a global common language so our product must meet standards to boost export and reduce rejection at the international market,” Okeke said
He emphasized that the organization’s efforts are expected to have a positive impact on other sectors of the economy.
He said the essence of the recognition, is to create an enabling environment for the sector to be part of the standardization process, so that products emanating from their system, would meet global standards.
The head of the department, marketing, SON, Stella Chamberlain, in an opening remark, observed that Aba is notable for trade and industry, which have thrived over the years, but noted that for the operators to remain relevant they must produce quality and competitive products for consumers at all times.
She said the workshop was put together to provide more information on the benefits of standardization to businesses, while exposing stakeholders to ways of consistently achieving standards to sustain their businesses.
Some stakeholders complained about the poor quality of leather in the market, while others appreciated the lecture, which highlighted the importance of avoiding banned chemicals in the production process.