EVALUATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER ZARIA, NIGERIA.

IDC, located at Zaria, provides management and technical assistance to small entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria engaged in woodworking, metals, automotive, leather, or other manufacturing. In the past, this project has experienced numerous difficulties in construction, recruitment of US personnel, equipment procurement and installation, and GONN recruitment of counterpart staff. These have now been solved. During 1967, management workshops were conducted, both at IDC and in the field, for 300 participants. IDC provided consultation to 125 small establishments and prepared formal feasibility studies as required. During the past 6 months, IDC conducted 9 woodworking demonstrations for 54 supervisory personnel and 5 metalworking demonstrations for 37 personnel, IDC also regularly provided on-the-spot, extension-type demonstrations from mobile equipped carryalls of woodworking, metals, and automotive equipment. IDC now provides technical advice to the Small Industry Credit Scheme (SIC) in assessing loan applications and monitoring subsequent implementation. As a result of IDC's own activity and of the joint IDC/SIC activities, 27 firms have been established or expanded as of 6/30/68, with a total new investment of $504,560 and 465 additional employees. The major remaining problem is the present operation of IDC under the umbrella of the Interim Common Services Agency, which is scheduled to phase out by 3/69. It is essential that IDC be transferred to the Federal Ministry of Industries. Evaluator recommends that USAID request Peace Corps Volunteers for IDC assignment throughout the 6 Northern states as industrial specialists. Also, the present USAID support should be continued until project termination in 6/70.