IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON NIGERIAN INDUSTRIES: A STUDY OF LEATHER FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY IN KANO 1980-2004

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON NIGERIAN INDUSTRIES: A STUDY OF LEATHER FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY IN KANO 1980-2004

ABSTRACT

This study “Impact of Globalization on Nigerian Industries: A case study of leather footwear Industry in Kano State from 1980-2004” set out to examine the effects and implications of globalization on leather footwear industry in Kano State. The data used for this research were drawn from both primary and secondary sources. The study found that globalization has inflicted devastating consequences on leather footwear industry in Kano. This is because as a result of globalization footwear products from advanced countries, which are better in terms of quality and relatively cheaper, are imported to Nigeria. These products enter Nigeria at the expense of the survival of Nigerian leather footwear industry due to liberalization and sometime smuggling. Thus, manufacturers of leather footwear in Nigeria lost market and the industries have gone distressed or closed. Globalization increased the dependence on imported products. As a result Nigeria’s industrial production fell thereby making it perpetually dependent and underdeveloped. Also, phenomenon of globalization compounded the menace of unemployment in Nigeria. This is because virtually all workers of leather footwear industry in Kano were laid off due to the inability of the locally produced footwear to compete with foreign manufactured or smuggled ones. Hence, living standard fell with increasing poverty. In a nutshell, this study found that globalization resulted in closures of industries, under capacity production, unemployment, stagnation, and backwardness in advancement of Local industries and dependence on imported leather footwear products from industrialized countries. This study, recommends that government should regulate massive importation and smuggling of footwear from other countries so that leather footwear manufacturers can have market for their products. Government should also patronize leather footwear products made in Nigeria by placing orders for boots and shoes used by Army, Police and other uniformed security agents. In addition, government should fund research and establish institutions that will aid manufacturers in designing, styling and marketing to conform with latest standards. Furthermore, the quality of leather used in the production of footwear in Nigeria should be enhance so as to improve the quality of the products and to revive the collapsing leather footwear industry in Kano. There is also the need for governments to provide soft loan for purchase of modern plant and machinery as well as working capital.

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON NIGERIAN INDUSTRIES: A STUDY OF LEATHER FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY IN KANO 1980-2004