First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on Saturday inaugurated a state-owned industrial leather processing and manufacturing factory in Mushin, Lagos, a facility expected to generate more than 10,000 direct jobs and boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
The factory, developed by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is projected to earn over $250 million annually from exports and position Lagos as the leather logistics hub of West Africa.
Commissioning the facility during her three-day official visit to Lagos, Mrs Tinubu described it as a milestone in innovation and enterprise. She said the project reinforced Lagos’s leadership in industrialisation and aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises job creation, productivity and economic diversification.
“This trailblazing project is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate industrialisation, creative manufacturing and innovation. It will empower artisans, strengthen MSMEs and help Nigerian leather products compete globally,” the First Lady said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who named the hub after Mrs Tinubu, said 70 percent of employment opportunities at the facility would be reserved for women and youths. He added that more than 150,000 artisans would benefit from specialised training, mentorship and start-up support offered at the centre.
“The leather hub will undoubtedly boost the local economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation and providing a platform for small and medium enterprises to grow. It will attract investments, improve living standards and ensure Nigeria earns more from non-oil exports,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu further noted that hides and skins which previously left Nigeria unprocessed would now be transformed into footwear, garments and accessories carrying the stamp “Made in Lagos, Made in Nigeria.”
Equipped with modern industrial machinery, the factory has the capacity for mass production of shoes, belts, bags, packaging materials and other leather products. It will also provide solutions for nano, small and medium enterprises that often lack the equipment to meet bulk orders.
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said the facility would allow artisans to produce high-quality goods at competitive costs to meet both local and international standards.
Earlier in the day, Mrs Tinubu also empowered 500 women in Ondo State under the Renewed Hope Initiative Support Scheme, in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
