CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This topic focuses on the history of local industries in Nigeria. A Case Study of Leather Work in Oyo Town. The people of engaged in various economic activities some of their economic activities had been in existence before the coming of European while the came in contact with some economic activities as a result of European influence.
Some of the indigenous works are farming, iron working, drum making, pottery, sculpture making, and trading activities and leather work. Leather work serve as business enterprise have been identifying as source of wealth creation in Nigeria. The main focus here is to shed lights on the economic activities of leather work in Oyo town.
Although these economic activities had been a major sources of economic earning before 1900 and it is still major source of income, for the experts on the fields, the level of their practiced is no more encouraging because most youths nowadays are no longer interested in the indigenous works but white collar jobs, all because of civilization.
These indigenous industries could be described as the early sciences and technology discoveries in Oyo town. This research work therefore focuses on the historical development of leather work in Oyo town development and improvement of foreign trade and indigenous trade, the process involves in these works, the equipment used in those fields and designs and materials fashioned out of works. The economic importance of the leather work towards the development of Oyo town and the problems facing the industries.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The geographical location of Yoruba according to Akinjogbin and Osoba (1980). The Yoruba strength on the latest from around the area of Warri and inland until they almost reached the Niger formed the boundary between it and around latitude 50N spread westward. Cutting across the whole of Dahomey and reaching into the east of Togo from the coast the country rise gradually from low- lying swamp region with the thick under growth to forest belt and finally semi derived savannah which is in Porto-Novo (Ajase) reaching almost to the coast.
The government of empire was almost an absolute monarch. The power and the authority of the government was in the hands of the monarchs. The power was shared among the various organs of the government which led to the checks and balance among the government arms.
The economical of the empires was vary and consist of farming, manufacturing, and trading basically necessary goods and luxuries which also extend within and outside of the town with good network facilities.
Socially, is homogenous society with historical background from Ile-Ife. Oranmiyan (founder the founding of Oyo) was among the several children of Oduduwa. Comprises both Yoruba speaking and non Yoruba languages e.g. Tapa and Ajase, Togo e.t.c. they are pagan worshippers. They worship various gods and goddess with various ceremonies of all kinds. Foreign religious was also introduce to Oyo people. Such as Christian, Muslim religious introduces by Christian and Muslim Missionaries, people were educated. The major concern would be on social and economic development of Oyo town since 1900-2000 on both in indigo.
1.3 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
This research work aims at study the effect of indigenous industry in Nigeria a case study of leather work in Oyo town.
The policy objectives of leather work in Oyo town includes:-
- It encourage local manufacturing
- It create employment opportunities for people of town
- To ensure a rapid expansion and diversification of the industrial sector of the economy
- To promote ever development and pair distribution of industries in all parts of the country
- It promote culture in Yoruba
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
There are lots of benefit we can derive from study the history of local industries in Nigeria a case study of leather work in Oyo town.
It is in the mind of the researcher to give proper recommendations to the traditional way and manner by which the people of Oyo town practices leather work system as source of their economic.
The existence of indigenous industries over the centuries in Nigeria is quiet significant for study of history in Nigeria. The investigation was also carried out to create into the mind of old and young.
One’s the need to improve in the traditional industry and leather work in Oyo town. This will also create interest of people to their social and cultural activities of the local industry and leather work system in Oyo town.
Finally, the investigation would make provision for series of information which will be of help for further researcher who might be looking for any related information in the future.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This project is restricted to some specific area in Nigeria as its historical background attach to Yoruba land. Not even all Yoruba land but focused only a town (Alaafin).
To talk about the scope, the major work in this essay is to vividly analyze on how the local industry, help to improve both socio and economic development to the people of Oyo town. And this essay also focused on how indigenous industry reduced the unemployment level among the people of Oyo town.
The researcher visited some areas in Oyo town where information was collected on the indigenous industry through interview and personal observation. Different problems were encountered during the research work. Firstly the interpretation of some instruments use in local industries from Yoruba language to English language. Also adequate information was not given about leather work industry because of their negative thought and level of socialization.
Lastly due to financial status, the researcher is unable to go to some important area where various local industries are located.
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The researcher make uses of both primary and secondary sources, the primary sources includes oral interview while the secondary source include the use of textbooks, magazines, journals and orchard materials, internet etc to gather the necessary information on the subject matter. The information needed for this study was gathered through interview by visiting leather work local industry through this necessary information was been gather.
An interview is said to be a meeting of people face to face, the problem of the local industry and probable solution to the leather work industry and the year for apprehentices before graduation.
Also books will be consulted as secondary source to gather some information like the basic instrument in leather work and centre of leather work in Oyo town and techniques with process of leather in Oyo town.
1.7 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
INDIGENOUS:- This belongs to a particular place rather than somewhere else. It can also be explain as the people who were born in a particular place, town or villages i.e. the indigene or the owner of a particular town or community.
INDUSTRY:- It is process by producing goods from raw materials especially in factories, it is also defined as the people and activities involved in producing a particular services.
INDIGENOUS INDUSTRY:- This is the traditional way by which people ruling in communities, villages or town to involve in producing some local goods for the aim of making profit or generalize income or sources of employment and the consumption of human want and to satisfy human want.
LEATHER:- Is treated animal skin which is used for making shoes, clothes, bags and furniture. Also, leather is a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair.
WORK:- Physical or mental effort directed towards doing or making something.
LEATHER WORK:- Is the act of making use of physical and mental effort in order to make use treated animal skin to made clothes, bags, shoes and furniture.
