BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Leadway, Nigeria’s leading non-banking financial and wellbeing conglomerate, has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) and the nation’s creative economy through its sponsorship of the Lagos Leather Fair (LLF) for the fourth consecutive year.
The ninth edition of the Lagos Leather Fair is scheduled to take place on June 27 and 28, 2026, at the EPAC Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s event, themed “Beyond the Hide: Scaling Value, Building Industry, Driving Growth,” will focus on strengthening Africa’s creative and craftsmanship industries while accelerating value creation across the manufacturing value chain.
Leadway’s continued support for the fair aligns with its broader vision of promoting business resilience, sustainable enterprise growth, and the development of Nigeria’s leather and creative manufacturing ecosystem. The sector has increasingly been recognised as a key contributor to the country’s export potential and global cultural influence.
Speaking on behalf of Leadway Group, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leadway Pensure, Olusakin Labeodan, described SMEs as critical drivers of economic growth, innovation, and wealth creation in Nigeria.
“SMEs are the critical drivers of Nigeria’s economic growth, innovation, and generational wealth creation,” Labeodan said. “The leather industry provides huge opportunities for our young entrepreneurs and creative minds to be part of a vibrant, resilient and incrementally growing value-retention economy, and this aligns strongly with Leadway’s commitment to enabling sustainable enterprise growth on the continent.”
He noted that the leather industry remains a largely untapped opportunity for value addition and industrial development. According to a 2025 report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Nigeria processes more than 750,000 metric tonnes of raw hides and skins annually, much of which is exported as low-value raw material.
“This presents a significant opportunity for value retention and industrial development within the sector,” he added. “It is within ecosystems such as this, where the potential for transformation is high, that Leadway continues to deepen its engagement and support.”
As part of its sponsorship, Leadway will engage with stakeholders at the event and showcase financial solutions designed to meet the needs of individuals, SMEs, and creative businesses. The company said the initiative reflects its longstanding commitment to equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and resources required to build resilient businesses, overcome challenges, and achieve sustainable growth.
Since its launch in 2017, the Lagos Leather Fair has evolved into one of Africa’s leading platforms for stakeholders across the leather value chain. The event brings together designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and industry leaders to promote collaboration, innovation, market access, and business development within the sector.
About Leadway Group
Leadway is a financial services group with expertise across insurance, pensions, asset management, trusteeship, and investment solutions. Established in 1970, the company has grown from a traditional insurance provider into a diversified financial services group with interests spanning general and life insurance, pensions, wealth management, health insurance, and hospitality.
For more than five decades, Leadway has built a reputation for reliability, innovation, integrity, and strong corporate governance, providing solutions that help individuals and institutions protect, grow, and transfer wealth. Today, it remains one of Nigeria’s most trusted and resilient financial services groups.
