Sanwo-Olu projects N387.5bn annual export earnings from Lagos leather hub

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, has projected annual export earnings of N387.5 billion from the newly inaugurated Industrial Leather Hub once it becomes fully operational.

Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of the facility in Matori, Mushin, Sanwo-Olu said the hub would establish Lagos as the leather logistics capital of West Africa.

“Building on the Non-Oil Export Expo earlier this week, this commissioning reinforces our determination to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond oil,” he said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The governor described the project as a crucial step in diversifying the country’s revenue base.

He stressed that it could generate over 10,000 jobs within three years, with 70 per cent reserved for women and youth.

He added that more than 150,000 artisans would benefit from advanced training and start-up support at the hub, ensuring “no talent is excluded.”

Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the support of Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, whose commitment to women and youth empowerment inspired the initiative.

He also praised the Council for Leather Exports and private investors “for choosing Lagos as Africa’s next leather frontier.”

The governor pledged that his administration would provide transparent regulation and infrastructure upgrades to safeguard and expand the hub.

He said the facility would be linked with fashion districts, e-commerce platforms, and the Blue Line Rail to ensure the smooth movement of goods and people.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that the success of the hub would not be judged by publicity but by the impact on households.

“This facility will create jobs, spur innovation, and provide small and medium enterprises with a platform for growth. It will boost competitiveness, attract investments, and improve the living standards of Lagosians,” he said.

“Remember, Lagos’s greatest resource is not its lagoon or land, but the indomitable spirit of its people.

“By unlocking that spirit, this hub ensures shared prosperity, rewards creativity, and leaves no one behind.

“May this hub serve generations unborn, and may every product from here carry the enduring mark of Nigerian excellence.”