The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday Saturday, commissioned a state-of-the-art leather processing and manufacturing hub in Mushin and renamed the hub after the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with dignitaries far and near in attendance.

The project is to create 10,000 direct jobs and generate over $250 million in annual export turnover when fully operational, said the Governor in his speech.

He added that the hub is to be renamed after the president's wife in recognition of her grassroots initiatives in social investment and economic empowerment, with 70 per cent of its employment slots reserved for women and youths.

The hub has modern machinery to support Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs), enabling mass production of shoes, bags, belts, packaging materials, and other leather products.

It is designed to ease production bottlenecks, scale operations, and position Lagos as the leather logistics capital of West Africa.

The first lady speaking at the inauguration, described the hub as a trailblazing project aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify Nigeria’s economy through industrialisation, manufacturing, and innovation.

“Leatherwork is a traditional craft that has stood the test of time. This facility will empower artisans, scale up leather goods production, and enable them to compete confidently in both local and international markets,” she said, 

Sanwo-Olu said the project would provide training and start-up support to over 150,000 artisans, boost the local economy, attract investments, and strengthen trade links with fashion districts, e-commerce platforms, and future rail services.

“Hides and skins that once left our shores unprocessed will now be transformed here in Lagos into world-class footwear, garments, and accessories proudly stamped ‘Made in Lagos, Made in Nigeria’.

“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.” the governor said. 

Speaking with Mushines News, the Council Chairmen of Mushin LGA and Odi-olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe and Hon. Seyi Jakande respectively, thanked the governor for considering Mushin worthy to be the host community of the first-of-its-kind leather hub in West Africa and urged the artisans and youth in Mushin and beyond to utilise the hub.

“The Lagos State Leather Hub will not only consolidate Mushin’s reputation as a centre of commerce and creativity but also create new opportunities for our artisans, traders, and young people. On behalf of the good people of Mushin, I sincerely thank Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for bringing this vision to life in Mushin,” Hon. Aruwe said.

He added that Mushin is at the centre of Lagos, which artisans from all over Nigeria, West Africa can easily access, and the hub is located at Matori by Ladipo Spareparts market, urged artisans and youth to make use of the hub for good and quality leather products. 

Hon. Seyi Jakande, the Council Chairman of Odi-olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, said, This is to tell our artisans, most especially the youth, to take the opportunity the leather hub has to offer them by learning the leather trade with modern equipment, where they can make quality leather products. 

"It is a welcome development and on behalf of the people of Odi-olowo Ojuwoye and Mushin, I want to say thank you to the Governor for a visionary project like this, and we welcome the mother of the nation, the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu." Hon. Seyi Jakande said.