Experts and scholars from across Nigeria have called for urgent reforms and sustainable practices in the leather industry to tackle environmental pollution and unlock the sector’s economic potential.
This was the focus of the 5th International Virtual Conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NILEST Chapter), themed “Sustainable Leather Production in Africa: Pathways to Zero Waste and Net-Zero Emissions.”
In his keynote address, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST) Zaria, Dr. Auwal Mustapha Imam, pledged to reposition the institute as Africa’s hub for leather research, training, and development. He said NILEST would strengthen its role in instruction, training, and consultancy services, while maintaining world-class standards in leather production, marketing, and quality control.
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“NILEST graduates and ambassadors, equipped with specialized skills, will drive our mandate for national development,” Dr. Imam said, while calling for collective support from staff, students, and stakeholders.
Leather industry expert Malam Bello Abba Yakasai stressed the need for greater investment and the adoption of modern technologies to reduce waste and pollution. He noted that untreated tannery waste in Kano, Zaria, and Katsina posed serious environmental challenges.
“The leather value chain requires adequate investment to adopt global best practices, with academia at the center,” Yakasai said, urging NILEST to expand training across Africa and build international collaborations.
Similarly, Dr. Amina Bayero of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, advocated the use of green chemistry to replace traditional leather production methods that generate toxic wastewater. She emphasized that zero-emission, eco-friendly processes were achievable through collaborative innovation.
The conference also featured remarks from ASUP NILEST Chapter Chairman, Comrade Joseph Odey Oko, who described the event as a platform for knowledge exchange and policy influence. He expressed appreciation to the organizers, partners, and participants, noting that insights generated would contribute to sustainable development in Africa’s leather sector.
The two-day conference concluded with a call for Nigeria to fully harness the leather industry’s potential as a viable alternative to oil, highlighting that sustainable production, backed by research-driven innovation, could create jobs, boost exports, and strengthen the economy.