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The Lagos State Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reiterated their partnership towards deepening and expanding African leather market.
The engagement took place during the ongoing two-day Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight exhibition, themed, ‘Crafting Prosperity: Connecting African Creativity to Markets’, at the Oluremi Tinubu Industrial Leather Hub in Matori, Oshodi, Lagos, on Friday.
The highly attended event, themed, ‘Crafting Prosperity: Connecting African Creativity to Markets, Capital and Growth’, and involved exhibitions, masterclasses, B2B matchmaking and products marketplace, brought together Nigeria’s creative entrepreneurs, buyers, investors and partners.
Speaking at the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth and Creation, Hon. Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, harped on the collaboration with the UNDP.
“This edifice you see here is not just for fashion, but a hub where we can bring different people together to see how they can grow,” he said.
“We are creating a platform where it can be easy for them to transact and grow their business. This is also a very, very important thing for us to see how we can collaborate with UNDP. We are not stopping at the state level alone.
“We are looking at how we can make this business. So we are not just stopping at the level alone. We are giving room for fashion, that’s why we have the Commissioner for Tourism here, to see how we can collaborate because you can’t just wear shoes alone, you can’t just carry bags alone. It complements each other. The bags, the accessories, goes with the clothing as well.
“So we must all work together. So it’s not just for leather alone. That’s why we come together to create an avenue for us to grow.”
He said the Ministry of Wealth Creation is working with the UNDP and other partners to make the state a true creativity hub.
“Our ministry remains committed to working alongside UNDP, the Bank of Industry and every partner in this room to ensure that Lagos becomes not just a city where creativity is born, but where it’s funded, skilled and exported.
“I’ll gladly say to our exhibitors, this stage is yours and to buyers and investors, I urge you to look closely because the value in this room is real.
“To our partners, thank you for believing this vision alongside us. Once again, on behalf of Lego State, I formally welcome you to the Fashion, Leather and Creative Enterprise Spotlight Summit,” he said.
Also speaking, the UNDP Africa’s Regional Director, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said the global body is in Lagos to explore areas of partnership.
“We are here to also see how best we can connect to our brothers and sisters in the continent to do business amongst ourselves. But while we are doing that business, we are also creating jobs, at the same time, raising revenue,” she noted.
“Now, the two or three things that I wanted to touch on very, very quickly in terms of not only the why and what we are doing and the opportunities that we see for Nigeria and by extension the continent, but also the challenges that we need to work around.
“We need power. And therefore how do we work together to ensure that we have power? This is because when there is power, there is business.
“And this is where we come in as UNDP, working with the private sector, working with other partners to ensure that we can connect. A few months ago, we did a similar thing. We went into partnership with SMEDAN.
“SMEDAN had equipment just like here, but the equipment were not functioning because there was no power. All we did was to work with them and other partners and then manage to bring in energy. Once we brought in energy, there was life.
“Other people talked about digitalisation, innovation. Again, this is great. One of the things that UNDP is doing under the leadership of our regional director is establishing what we are calling innovation hubs across different parts of the states, whether in universities, whether in communities and all that.
“These spaces also provide an opportunity for you to go in there and to see how your business can be supported to grow digitally. But also, beyond growing digitally, many of our people sometimes don’t have patents, they don’t have intellectual property or other things, and we do hope that we can work with you on that. The other area that came up also strong is around financing, and that’s one of the reasons that I am a commissioner.
“We are working with you on wealth creation, looking at pathways for financing, but also working with developing banks in Nigeria and others to look for that.
“So, for me, it’s an important gathering, not just because we wanted to activate the space. We are talking about the future of development in Nigeria and where we can create jobs, where we can create opportunities,” she said.
On her own, UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, regretted that with Nigeria as a huge player in tye leather industry, it was sad that the country ships out raw hides abroad and later imports finished products made from leather, which denies the country of earning from the value chain.
“Many producers ship raw hides abroad for processing, which means missing out on the higher value add associated with tanning, with finishing, and with creating finished leather goods,” she said.
“Nigeria is a massive player in the leather sector. But look at what happens next. While over 70% of Africa’s raw hides are currently exported in a processed form, investing in modern tanneries could double their value.
“Finished leather goods such as footwear, bags, and apparel, as we saw upstairs, can command up to five times the price of raw materials in both domestic and international markets. So let that sink in for a little bit. Five times the price.”
She then called on stakeholders to stop exporting raw leather materials.
“The Nigerian government should stop exporting leather materials like hide and skins. This will transform raw hide into finished products and Ethiopia and Kenya are showing the way. The rest of Africa including Nigeria should follow.
“Let’s protect local industries which find it difficult to secure hides. Through this we can protect industries. African leather industries are growing. Associations are the connecting tissues of the value chain.
“The leathers are already being produced but the question is are we ready to make them finished goods?
“Are African entrepreneurs capturing this or are they being captured by others? She asked.
While weighing in, Adejoke Benson Awoyinka, the Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said under the present administration in the state, Lagos is committed to position the state as the creative hub.
“Under the visionary leadership of our dear Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Government remains committed to positioning the creative economy as a major driver of economic growth.
“Through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, we continue to support initiatives that promote capacity, innovation, market access, and strategic partnerships for practitioners across the creative value chain.
“We are equally committed to showcasing Lagos’ creative excellence through festivals, exhibitions, trade missions, and other platforms that connect our entrepreneurs to global opportunities.”
She said the artisans in the state are doing well, motivated to further innovate.
“Our artisans have remarkable skills. Our youthful population provides an endless source of innovation.
“What is required now is a focus on improving quality, increasing production capacity, embracing technology, and strengthening access to local and international markets.”
