By Mustapha Shettima, Alfaya Jibrilla, Mohammed Usman Umar
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Borno State, led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Mustapha Shettima, has embarked on a visit to the NEITAL Shoes company Limited as part of an effort to promote the development and support local industries in Nigeria. This engagement aligns with RMRDC’s mandate of enhancing local raw materials utilisation and industrial growth.
The Shoe company which was located in Jere Local Government Area of the state, has been dormant for over a decade, but was recently revived by the current Executive Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has two main sections, the Shoe and the Tannery, It is strategically located within the vicinity of the state abattoir for sourcing of its raw materials of hide and skin.
1The tannery section is considered one of the largest in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, with amazing products. The company processes hide and skins that meet international standards, and most products are exported to Italy, Spain and Germany, and it has been approached by other countries for further business collaborations. Its products also have a Global demand.
Governor Zulum initiated a bold effort in reviving the company with a view to resuscitate and strengthened its input and output capacity, boost production and create job opportunities for youths.
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Although the company still operate below its full capacity, they specialized in the productions for both domestic and international markets, including customizing military, Para military shoes (only on demand by the authorities) and many other products from hides and skin.
The General Manager of the company, Mr. Mike S. Zira highlighted some challenges the company faces that has hampered the business growth. Such as,
Insufficient raw material: Despite NEITAL company proximity advantage to the state abattoir, the company faces huge challenge on shortage of hide and skin, because of the high demand usage of the hide and skin in the state.
The company, despite meeting up with the international standard sometimes doesn’t meet up to with the number of product demand for exportation due to lack of raw materials.
Inadequate manpower: the company currently has 83 active workers on the ground, which is inadequate; the maximum capacity the company can accommodate is 500 workers on full operation with sufficient raw materials, amongst many other challenges.
The State Coordinator, Mr. Mustapha Shettima, stated that the Director General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, is committed to fostering development and promoting the use of local raw materials in Borno State’s industrial sector and other states.
He informed the company that the Council is hosting the first Africa Raw Material Summit in Abuja in the month of May, from the 20th to 22nd and urged them to make use of the opportunity to participate and showcase their product at the summit and also enjoy other benefits embedded in the summit.
