Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILST) says it is working with relevant stakeholders to strategise and embark on campaigns against the consumption of cooked cow skin known as ponmo, and create alternatives for ponmo sellers.
Director, Policy Analysis Statistics and International Relations at NILST, Mr Igili Andrew, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ponmo is the cooked cow skin very popular and much-loved part of Nigerian cuisine. It is a favourite beef part enjoyed as a side dish, snack and condiment in South-Western Nigeria.
Andrew said that the purpose of stakeholders’ strategic deliberation was to advocate for the availability of animal skins to serve as a means of reviving the moribund tanneries and leather industry in the country.
NILST had proposed to the National Assembly to legislate against the consumption of animal skin, locally known as ponmo, to save the leather industry
According to him, since ponmo has no nutritional value, NILST is working with stakeholders to create substitute initiatives for ponmo sellers to keep them in business.
“These interventions by NILST will help to diversify and revive the nation’s economy, reduce capital flight, improve security, create employment and wealth, as well as promote made-in-Nigeria goods.
“The issue of ponmo under my purview, we are creating the awareness which will keep people working in hides and skin industry in business by adding value and harnessing it,” he added.
Andrew recalled that NILST had proposed to the National Assembly to legislate against the consumption of animal skin, locally known as ponmo, to save the leather industry and boost the nation’s economy.
“By doing so, it would leave enough of our leathers to process so that there can be massive employment.
“Imagine a single small ternary in Kano employing a thousand workers and before now, we had 50 functional ternaries, just multiply that.
“Having enough leather means enough finished leather goods, which is part of the value chain where we have them in Abuja, Lagos and everywhere,’’ he said. (NAN)
