Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the Oluremi Tinubu Leather Hub, an industrial leather processing and manufacturing facility in Mushin, designed to create 10,000 direct jobs and generate more than $250 million in annual export earnings.
The hub, named in honour of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was officially commissioned on Saturday during her three-day working visit to Lagos. Seventy per cent of jobs at the facility have been reserved for women and youths.
Equipped with modern industrial machinery, the hub is positioned to transform Lagos into West Africa’s leather logistics capital.
It will provide solutions for Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) struggling with bulk orders, enabling mass production of shoes, bags, belts, packaging materials and other leather products.
Speaking at the inauguration, the First Lady hailed the project as a demonstration of Lagos’ innovation and commitment to inclusive growth.
“This trailblazing project is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation,” she said.
She described leatherwork as a timeless craft and said the hub would scale up production, empower artisans, and help NMSMEs compete globally.
“The hub will serve as a centre for leather processing, footwear production, and specialised training, enabling artisans to add greater value to their craft and compete confidently in both local and international markets,” Tinubu noted.
Highlighting its economic significance, she added: “Building on the momentum of the non-oil export boom, the facility further strengthens our resolve to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond oil.
From today, hides and skins that once left our shores unprocessed will be transformed here in Lagos into world-class footwear, garments, and accessories proudly stamped ‘Made in Lagos, Made in Nigeria’.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the hub symbolises his administration’s vision of grassroots empowerment, noting that its true impact would be measured by the number of households lifted out of poverty. “
The true dividends of democracy are best felt when they reach the cobbler in Mushin, the tanner in Oko-Oba, and the young fashion designer in Yaba,” he said.
State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, also stressed that with advanced machinery installed, local artisans can now produce high-quality leather goods at lower costs while meeting global standards.
The First Lady, during the visit, also empowered 500 women in Ondo State under her Renewed Hope Initiative Support Scheme, reinforcing her commitment to grassroots economic upliftment.
