The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a new leather processing and manufacturing hub in Mushin, designed to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain by transforming livestock hides and skins into high-value finished products while creating thousands of jobs.
The state-of-the-art facility was officially launched by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her three-day official visit to Lagos.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that the hub, named in honour of the First Lady, will directly employ 10,000 people and support over 150,000 artisans nationwide.
He explained that 70 percent of these jobs have been reserved for women and young people to drive inclusive growth.
According to the governor, the hub is fully equipped to produce shoes, bags, belts, and other leather goods on a scale that individual businesses cannot achieve alone.
With an estimated annual export potential of over $250 million, the project is expected to position Lagos as a strong competitor in the global leather market.
Beyond the financial outlook, Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that the real impact will be felt in local communities. “The true success will be measured by the cobbler in Mushin who earns more for his craft, the tanner in Oko-Oba who now has steady work, and the young designer in Yaba who can finally take her brand to the world,” he said.
The project aligns with Lagos State’s broader vision to boost industrialisation, reduce reliance on raw material exports, and create sustainable livelihoods for residents.
By turning raw hides into finished products, the hub is also expected to reduce waste in the agricultural value chain, ensuring that livestock farmers and suppliers of hides and skins benefit directly from a stronger demand for quality leather.
