Governor Sanwo-Olu commissions Yikodeen factory; West Africa's largest safety footwear manufacturing factory
Guests at the upcoming ceremony will include traditional rulers such as His Royal Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, the Ooni of Ife, and His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri. Also expected is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, whose presence underscores the Board's continued commitment to indigenous capacity development in key industrial sectors. The Chairman of Yikodeen's Board of Directors, Engr. Ajibola Akindele, MFR, will serve as Chief Host and welcome guests alongside Yikodeen's leadership and team.
According to Yikodeen's Founder and CEO, Atunde Shamsideen Olayinka, the commissioning is more than a ribbon-cutting event. 'It is a declaration of intent; a symbol of what is possible when visionary thinking, local talent, and long-term investment converge in the service of national development,' he said. 'We are not just opening a factory; we are unlocking new possibilities for industrial self-reliance in Nigeria and across Africa.'
The new facility is equipped with some of the most advanced manufacturing and quality control technologies available globally. These include automated European production lines, precision-based quality assurance systems, and fully integrated production processes that support a diverse product range: industrial safety boots, educational footwear, and the fast-growing Yiko Plus athletic shoe line.
The scale and efficiency of the new factory reflect a deliberate strategy to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported safety footwear while promoting local job creation. Since the start of the expansion phase, Yikodeen has added over 180 skilled roles and anticipates hiring at least 20 more as operations scale to full capacity. Moreover, the factory's increased output is projected to inject over ₦5 billion annually into the Nigerian economy through direct employment, local procurement, and regional supply chain engagement.
The expansion was made possible through a strategic investment from Aruwa Capital Management, one of Nigeria's leading women-founded and women-focused private equity funds. While the financial terms were not publicly disclosed, the investment is widely believed to be in the multi-million-dollar range and was deployed to accelerate Yikodeen's digital transformation, factory upgrade, and market expansion initiatives. This capital infusion also enabled the company to deepen its local sourcing capabilities and position itself for entry into key regional markets.
Speaking on the anticipated commissioning, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital, noted: 'Yikodeen's trajectory is a model of what's possible in Nigerian manufacturing. We invested not just in a company, but in a mission to demonstrate that world-class products can be made locally, at scale, by Nigerians.'
The company's leadership has also emphasized the social impact of its journey. As part of the commissioning event, Yikodeen will present a short documentary video showcasing the company's transformation from a microenterprise in 2016 to a continental manufacturing leader in 2025. A separate segment will highlight the company's social investments, including training programs for youth, mentorship opportunities for aspiring manufacturers, and ongoing support for SMEs navigating capital access.
Yikodeen's operations have been consistently aligned with Nigeria's Local Content Development policy, and it remains the only safety footwear manufacturer certified by the NCDMB for supplying safety boots to the Nigerian oil and gas industry. This exclusive positioning has allowed the company to win major contracts, deepen its compliance infrastructure, and elevate local content as a standard of competitiveness.
In addition to the recommissioning ceremony, invited guests will be treated to a guided tour of the factory's new production lines and its experiential product booths, showcasing Yikodeen's flagship collections and highlighting innovations in durability, ergonomics, and safety design. There will also be a Q&A session and live brand storytelling led by the company's executive team to provide a deeper understanding of Yikodeen's vision, milestones, and market strategy.
Governor Sanwo-Olu is expected to speak on the significance of industrial development in Lagos State and the importance of supporting homegrown enterprises that are committed to manufacturing excellence. His participation reflects the Lagos State government's ongoing interest in catalyzing local production and job creation as key drivers of economic transformation.
Yikodeen's recommissioning is not just a moment for celebration; it is an invitation to stakeholders, partners, and policymakers to reimagine Nigeria's future as a destination for industrial excellence. The company has already signaled its intention to explore export opportunities to neighboring West and Central African countries with its new infrastructure designed to meet the compliance and volume requirements of both domestic and international markets.
The event will begin at 11:00 AM on June 24 and will run through 2:00 PM at the company's headquarters and production site located at 8 Adekan Akinsanya Street, Isolo, Lagos. Attendance is strictly by invitation, although interested stakeholders may request access by emailing info@yikodeen.com. Requests will be subject to review and confirmation.
The recommissioning of Yikodeen Factory 2.0, under the theme 'The Walk That Matters' — will serve as a reminder that Nigeria can produce, innovate, and lead, not just in theory but in practice. For the Yikodeen team, it is not merely the opening of a facility; it is the launch of a renewed national promise, one stitched, laced, and walked in every pair of boots they make.
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