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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, has said that Nigeria has the capacity to produce 200 million pairs of shoes every year due to the availability of raw materials in the country.
She stated this yesterday at the ongoing two-day Fashion, Leather and Creative Enterprise Spotlight exhibition in Lagos.
The event, held at the Olufemi Tinubu Industrial Leader Hub in Oshodi, is a partnership programme between the UNDP and the Lagos State Government aimed at boosting and expanding the African leather market.
Themed, ‘Crafting Prosperity: Connecting African Creativity to Markets’, the event brought together stakeholders in the fashion, leather and creative industries.
Attafuah regretted that Nigeria, despite being a major player in the leather industry, exports raw hides and skins and ends up importing finished products, a development she said denies the country opportunities to earn more from the value chain.
“Nigeria is a massive player in the leather sector. But look at what happens next. While over 70 per cent of Africa’s raw hides are currently exported, investing in modern tanneries could double their value.
“Finished leather goods such as footwear, bags and apparel can command up to five times the price of raw materials in both domestic and international markets,” she said.
She called on stakeholders to stop exporting raw leather materials.
“The Nigerian government should stop exporting leather materials like hides and skins. This will transform raw hides into finished products. Ethiopia and Kenya are already 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 leather is already being produced, but the question is: are we ready to make finished goods?
“Are African entrepreneurs capturing this or are they being captured by others?” she asked.
Speaking at the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, harped on the collaboration with the UNDP, saying: “This edifice you see here is not just for fashion; it is a hub where we can bring different people together to see how they can grow.
“We are creating a platform where it can be easy for people to transact and grow their businesses. This is also very important for us as we explore how we can collaborate with the UNDP. We are not stopping at the state level alone.
“We are looking at how we can make this a business. So, 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 and you can’t just carry bags alone. They complement each other. The bags and accessories go with the clothing as well.
“So, we must all work together. It’s not just about leather alone; that’s why we have come together to create an avenue for us to grow.”
He said the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment was working with the UNDP and other partners to make the state a true creativity hub.
“Our ministry remains committed to working alongside the 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 is funded, nurtured 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 in this vision alongside us. Once again, on behalf of Lagos State, I formally welcome you to the Fashion, Leather and Creative Enterprise Spotlight Summit.”
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Also speaking, the UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said the global body was in Lagos to explore areas of partnership.
“We are here to also see how best we can connect with our brothers and sisters across the continent to do business among ourselves. While doing that business, we are also creating jobs and, at the same time, generating revenue.
“There are opportunities that we see for Nigeria and, by extension, the African continent, but there are also challenges that we need to address.
“We need power, so how do we work together to ensure that we have power? This is because when there is power, there is business. This is where we come in as UNDP, working with the private sector and other partners to ensure that we can connect.
“A few months ago, we undertook a similar initiative. We partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
“It had equipment just like here, but the equipment was not functioning because there was no power. All we did was work with them and other partners to provide energy. Once we brought in energy, there was life.
“Other people talked about digitalisation and innovation. Again, this is great. One of the things that UNDP is doing under the leadership of our Regional Director is establishing what we call innovation hubs across different states, whether in universities, communities or other locations.
“These spaces also provide an opportunity for you to see how your business can be supported to grow digitally. Beyond growing digitally, many of our people do not have patents, intellectual property protections or other necessary support systems, and we hope that we can work with you on that.
“Another area that featured strongly is financing, and that’s one of the reasons I am working with the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment.
“We are working with you on wealth creation, looking at pathways to financing, while also engaging development banks in Nigeria and elsewhere to support these efforts.
“So, for me, it is 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 and opportunities,” she said.
Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Adejoke Benson-Awoyinka, said the government was committed to positioning the state as a 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 building, 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 artisans in the state were doing well and remained motivated to innovate further.
“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,” she said.
The well-attended event brought together Nigeria’s creative entrepreneurs, buyers, investors and development partners.
The highlight of the event was a fashion parade during which various designs made with local fabrics were showcased.
