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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, has said that Nigeria has the capacity to produce 200 million pairs of shoes every year, due to the availability of raw materials in the country.
She stated this on Friday, at the ongoing two-day Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight exhibition in Lagos.
The event, held at the Oluremi Tinubu Industrial Leader Hub in Oshodi, was a partnership programme between the UNDP and the Lagos State Government aimed at boosting and expanding African leather market.
Themed “Crafting Prosperity: Connecting African Creativity to Markets,” Attafuah regretted that Nigeria as a big player in the leather industry, exports raw hides and skin, but ends up importing the finished products, a development she said denies Nigeria the opportunity of earning from the value chain.
“Nigeria is a massive player in the leather sector. But look at what happens next. While over 70 per cent of Africa’s raw hides are currently exported, investing in modern tanneries could double their value.
“Finished leather goods such as footwear, bags and apparel can command up to five times the price of raw materials in both domestic and international markets,” she said.
She called on stakeholders to stop exporting raw leather materials.
“The Nigerian government should stop exporting leather materials like hide and skins. This will transform raw hide into finished products. Ethiopia and Kenya are already showing the way. The rest of Africa including Nigeria should follow.
“Let’s protect local industries, which find it difficult to secure hides. Through this we can protect industries. African leather industries are growing. Associations are the connecting tissues of the value chain.
“The leathers are already being produced but the question is are we ready to make them finished goods?
“Are African entrepreneurs capturing this or are they being captured by others? She asked.
