On November 13, at a national awareness campaign in Abuja, RMRDC Director-General Professor Nnanyelugo Ikemounso said Nigeria’s leather goods market, which was worth US$2.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$4.96 billion by 2033, could lose momentum if hides continue to be eaten rather than used for tanning and exports.
He noted that cowhide is one of Nigeria’s most valuable industrial inputs and key to job creation, foreign exchange generation and global competitiveness. Ikemounso stressed that the campaign is not an attack on cultural food choices but a push to prioritise hides for industrial use so that Nigeria can capture more of the global leather market.
He also highlighted health concerns, saying ponmo provides minimal nutrition and is often processed with hazardous chemicals such as formalin and diesel, which can cause organ damage and increase cancer risk.
Source: The Guardian, Nigeria
