Ogun Assures Trade Associations Of Commitment To Promotion Of Made In Nigeria Goods

The Ogun State Government has assured trade associations of its commitment to promotion of  Made in Nigeria goods, by ensuring  seamless certification, market expansion, as well as linkage to opportunities with industries across the State

Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, who gave the assurance in his office in Abeokuta, while playing host to the executives of Cobblers and Leather Artisans Association of Nigeria (COLAAN), Ogun State Chapter, promised that government would create an enabling environment for the association to ply their trades for increase productivity

He revealed that the government was aware of trade association’s strides and contributions to the economy of the State.

Odemuyinwa expressed the determination of the  present administration  to make the sector more viable by addressing challenges confronting them, adding that they would be linked to industries to enhance their profit and to enable them to compete favorably with others in any part of the country.

 “Your Association, among others, is relevant in our drive at partnering artisans across the State and ensuring seamless certification, as well as streamlining your activities with the view to addressing challenges confronting you.  As a government, we will not rest on our oars to see that you have an enabling environment to ply your trade", he stated

The Special Adviser promised to facilitate and expand the offering of Leather Works as a trade subject in the remaining seven Government Science and Technical Colleges (GSTCs) across the State, as it is only offered in GSTC, Ilara in collaboration with COLAAN and other stakeholders in the leather industry, pointing out that it would further make the trade attractive to the young ones.

Odemuyiwa said the government would facilitate the usage of the hide and skin laboratory in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture for leather work, which could also serve as a hub for their trade

He advised the association to coordinate its members across the nooks and crannies of the State, to ensure that no one will be left out in its intervention.

Speaking earlier, Coordinator and Secretary of COLAAN in the State, Comrades Fashina Akorede and Salami Idowu respectively, applauded the government for its immense support

He called for more intervention in the area of establishment of shoemaking hubs across the State with sophisticated machines to guarantee quality output, just as the association volunteered to teach free vocational education in shoemaking and other leather-related products across secondary schools and higher institutions.