The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILST) says it is working with relevant stakeholders to strategize and embark on campaigns against the consumption of cooked cow skin known as ponmo and create alternatives for ponmo sellers.
Mr. Igili Andrew, the Director, Policy Analysis, Statistics, and International Relations, NILST, stated this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ponmo is a 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.
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.
“With the issue of “ponmo’’ under my purview, we are creating awareness that will keep people working in the 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 could be massive employment.
“Imagine a single small ternary in Kano employing a thousand workers; before now, we had 50 functional ternaries; just multiply that.
“Having enough leather means having enough finished leather goods, which is part of the value chain where we have them in Abuja, Lagos, and everywhere,’’ he said. (NAN)
