Lagos Leather Fair 2026 Officially Opens with Powerful Focus on Creative Leadership, Economic Growth, and Intra-African Trade

LAGOS, NIGERIA — The highly anticipated 9th edition of the Lagos Leather Fair (LLF2026) officially opened its doors with an exclusive VIP Opening Event, gathering prominent industry leaders, financial experts, policymakers, and creative innovators committed to driving growth, innovation and sustainable development within the African Leather Industry to celebrate the rich potential and economic power of Africa’s leather sector.

In her address and official opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to scaling local value chains, promoting artisanal craftsmanship, and creating an enabling environment for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive globally.

The event also featured insightful perspectives from foundational partners and international development leaders. Delivering a warm welcome address, Mrs Femi Olayemi, Founder of the Lagos Leather Fair, detailed the journey of the platform and its vision for expanding the continent’s leather economy. Commending the LLF journey thus far, she spoke on the fair’s achievements and said;

“While all we have achieved is commendable, we must also recognise our work is far from done. Buildings do not build industries. Machines alone do not create ecosystems. The right blueprint needs to be put in place”

She also emphasised the fair’s continuous commitment to positioning the African leather industry on the global stage, fostering local talent, and driving sustainable manufacturing and ended her welcome address by thanking all partners, sponsors and stakeholders.

Keynote remarks and institutional support highlighted the event’s core focus on strategic partnerships and economic empowerment

Ms Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the critical intersection of industrialisation, regional trade, and economic empowerment, linking the development of the leather industry to broader sustainable development goals and regional trade growth.

Mrs Omoboye Odu, Head of SME & Partnerships at Ecobank, reaffirmed the financial sector’s strategic support for scaling local talent and unlocking sustainable funding pathways for SMEs and highlighted crucial financing pathways and structural support systems available for scaling leather design businesses.

A major highlight of the VIP opening was the vibrant Mini Runway Presentation, where a curated selection of leather designs came to life, bridging the gap between raw manufacturing and high-end fashion.

The exhibition was officially declared open following a distinguished address by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, who commended the initiative for driving industrialisation, creating jobs, and aligning with national economic diversification goals.

The VIP event concluded with an exclusive preview and guided walk-through of the main exhibition, setting an enthusiastic tone for the rest of the fair.

Lagos Leather Fair 2026 is organised in partnership with Ecobank Business and proudly sponsored by the Bank of Industry, Kharis Engineering Services Ltd, Leadway, and the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), alongside a wide network of media and creative partners.

For more information, highlights, and updates on the ongoing exhibition, visit thelagosleatherfair.com or follow the conversation online using the hashtag #LLF2026

About Lagos Leather Fair

In 2017, Lagos Leather Fair (LLF) was launched as Nigeria’s first dedicated platform focused exclusively on the leather industry. Founded by Femi Olayebi, a premium leather goods designer based in Ibadan, Nigeria, LLF was born out of both frustration and possibility – frustration with the structural gaps holding the industry back and belief in the immense, untapped potential of the Nigerian leather ecosystem.

At the time, industry projections suggested that Nigeria’s leather sector could generate up to USD 1 million by 2025. Yet the pathway to that growth was unclear. Misconceptions, limited public awareness, fragmented supply chains, and the absence of a unifying platform to spotlight its talent and capacity burdened the industry.

Across the value chain – from raw material sourcing to design and finished products – creatives faced systemic barriers to visibility, scale, and global competitiveness.

LLF was created to change that narrative.

More than an event, it became a convening force – bringing together designers, manufacturers, suppliers, policymakers, and investors under one roof. By highlighting both the challenges and opportunities within the sector, LLF set out to bridge gaps, strengthen linkages, and position Nigerian and African leather as a competitive force on the global stage.

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