The finished Leather goods sector in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, comprising shoe, belt and bag makers, are to benefit from the market for development (MADE) project, financed by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).
This is coming at the heels of the Growth and Employment in States (GEMS 1) on meat and leather, a project also financed by DFID, which has galvanized the Aba finished leather goods sector, created unity within the cluster and attracted funding from the Bank of Agriculture (BoI).
MADE, on the other hand, would assist the Aba finished leather goods sector to have access to market, increase their economic activity and trade as well as create jobs and raise incomes of the artisans.
Using what it termed “making market work for the poor” (M4P) approach, MADE tends to generate sustainable inclusive economic growth at scale in the non-oil sectors across the nine Niger Delta States.
Terry Lacey, team leader MADE, who was in Aba, Tuesday, to meet with the leather cluster, explained that the programme exists to help promote Nigeria markets, the local economy and ultimately, to promote exports, help attract investors and funding from banks.
He also revealed that the programme, will help the Aba finished leather cluster, access to finance, appropriate technology and markets, but stated that the programme would help expose the infrastructure gaps in the cluster, which he pointed out will hinder sector growth if not tackled.
In his words, “We will also try and help pull the leather value chain together to present it well to Government and international organisations and that is our main focus.
“However, the energy displayed by the Aba leather cluster, represented by the Leather Producers Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS) at this meeting has shown that its membership and its people want to see this industry move forward.
“This is the good time to get Nigeria moving, we will be making fresh beginnings, we have a new government at the Federal level as well as at the State and there is a lot of energy in the small enterprises, among the farmers and among all these artisans and manufacturers, who are working on leather.
“And I think this is the chance to get the Aba leather industry unto the world stage as well as get it clearly established within the federation of Nigeria, as one of the main sources of leather craft and leather production.
“This is where the shoes, belts and hand bags can come from and these will become world known products, “he affirmed.
GODFREY OFURUM
