National Institute of Leather and Science Technology and Unemployment Reduction in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State

Abstract

Successive governments in Nigeria had initiated several programmes and projects overtime aimed at addressing the increasing rate of unemployment among which is the National Institute of Leather & Science Technology (NILEST). NILEST was established to strengthen research in the areas of Science and Technology and training for self-reliance in footwear, leather goods and polymer technology among others.This paper assessed the impact of NILEST in reduction of unemployment in Zaria Local Government through its training in footwear and leather goods. The study used both primary and secondary data with questionnaire and interview as source of its primary data and books and journals as source of its secondary data. Findings in the study revealed that the footwear and Leather goods training has been effective and has reduced unemployment amongst the attendees of the training, however, NILEST is faced with challenges of infrastructure, obsolete machines and shortfall of training staff and all are tied to the low budgetary allocation and approval.