NILEST upgrades Sokoto office to regional centre, Aliyu pledges support

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto state has assured his administration’s support to the newly upgraded Sokoto office of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) to carry out its mandates effectively.

The governor stated this while receiving the institute’s Director-General, Dr Awwal Mustafa Imam, during a courtesy visit.

Dr Aliyu lauded director general over the foresight to upgrade the Sokoto office of the Institute.

He said the move would go a long way in improving the economic status of the region, particularly Sokoto state.

“The activities of this institute are in line with my administration’s 9- point Smart Innovative Agenda to reduce unemployment and create jobs for our people

“Upgrading the Sokoto office to a regional office is the right thing to do, considering the fact that Sokoto is the home of leather.

“Even the popular Moroccan leather originated from Sokoto as it was made from our popular Sokoto red goats,” he added.

The governor assured the director- general of his administration’s determination to support the newly created Sokoto regional centre to function effectively

He appealed for more job vacancies to Sokoto state indigenes in the new regional office.

Dr Aliyu appealed, ‘”We look forward to a stronger collaboration with NILEST for the good of our people.”

Earlier, Dr Awwal Mustafa Imam said the institute decided to upgrade its Sokoto office in consideration of the strategic position Sokoto occupies in the country.

He added that preparations were in top gear to provide the regional office with all the needed equipment for efficiency and called on the state government to sponsor its indigenes to study leather related courses offered by the institute.

Imam said, “We have inspected the facility and directed the movement of heavy equipment from Zaria to Sokoto

“We have mobilised the contractors to return to site for the construction of affluent water treatment plant and the renovation of tannery so that the center can compete with the headquarters and other centers.”

He solicited the support and cooperation of the members of the National Assembly in the zone to consider the center in their constituency projects by bringing their people to it for skills acquisition training.

Dr Awwal said the institute lacks adequate manpower, hence the need for states to send their people to the center to study leather and leather products courses.

According to him, the leather industry in Nigeria has the potential to generate huge income for Nigeria if properly supported by the state governments.

The director general also commended the member representing Bodinga/Dange Shuni/Tureta federal constituency, Nasiru Shehu Bodinga, for his effort in ensuring the upgrade of the state office to a regional one.

He present to the governor a letter on the upgrading of the state office to a regional office, and announced Garba Ajiya Kilgori, an indigene of Sokoto state, as the pioneer coordinator of the centre.