Latest news with #AbiaStateGovernment
Business Insider
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The footwear capital, Abia State, in strategic talks with Yikodeen, West Africa's footwear giant on 10,000-pair daily capacity factory
In a strategic move poised to redefine Africa's manufacturing narrative, Yikodeen Company Limited, the largest safety footwear manufacturer in West Africa, is in high-level discussions with the Government of Abia State on the establishment of a state-of-the-art footwear factory in Aba, Nigeria's renowned footwear capital. This proposed partnership between the Abia State Government and Yikodeen will see the development of a world-class manufacturing facility capable of producing 10,000 pairs of footwear per day, forming the Eastern anchor of Yikodeen's national expansion plan to hit a total of 20,000 pairs daily. The talks are spearheaded by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, Executive Governor of Abia State, who hosted Yikodeen's Founder and CEO, Mr. Shamsideen Atunde, at his country home in a meeting that has been described as visionary and deeply inspiring. Yikodeen is a proudly indigenous company with a proven track record of excellence in industrial footwear production. From humble beginnings in 2016, producing just 20 pairs daily, the company has grown into Nigeria's foremost safety footwear manufacturer and largest single exporter of made-in-Nigeria footwear, supplying European markets and global brands. The company's factory in Lagos, Yikodeen Factory 2.0, was recently recommissioned and now stands as the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a production capacity of 2,500 pairs per day. This ultra-modern, ISO-certified facility includes automated QA/QC systems, advanced European machinery, and a skilled workforce of over 350 Nigerians. As a testament to its commitment to domestic industrialisation, Yikodeen also partners with the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation through a dedicated Leather Hub, a 1,000-pairs-per-day facility designed to boost job creation, promote local content, and drive export readiness. Mr. Atunde, reflecting on his visit to Abia State, stated: 'Abia's transformation is undeniable. The Governor's compassion, clarity of vision, and commitment to local development truly moved me. Aba has long been the heartbeat of Nigeria's indigenous footwear craftsmanship. By marrying this legacy with Yikodeen's technology, standards, and global distribution network, we can elevate Aba into a true global industrial hub. My interaction with the Governor gave me renewed hope — that Nigeria can, and indeed will, be great.' The proposed 10,000-pair-per-day facility in Aba will include multi-line production for industrial safety boots, military and paramilitary footwear, school sandals, and slippers. It will be designed with training spaces to upskill over 2,500 local artisans annually, embed international QA/QC systems, and connect directly to Yikodeen's export pipeline. The company is already in advanced talks with international procurement partners looking to increase sourcing from Africa, and the Aba facility will be a key enabler of this ambition. The socio-economic impact of the project is expected to be significant: 2,500 direct jobs for skilled and semi-skilled workers. 2,000 indirect jobs in logistics, maintenance, raw materials supply, and services. Over $20 million in economic activity within two years. Increased use of local leather, rubber, and packaging. Aba-branded products exported under the Made in Nigeria label. A pipeline for youth employment, internships, and entrepreneurship. The partnership is part of Yikodeen's broader vision to establish a pan-African footprint, with upcoming facilities also being developed in Kaduna (to serve military and paramilitary needs) and Ghana (in collaboration with the government). These investments are designed to scale Nigerian manufacturing leadership in footwear across the continent and reduce Africa's dependency on imported personal protective equipment. For Abia State, which has long been the cultural and industrial nucleus of Nigeria's footwear industry, this partnership presents a unique opportunity to institutionalize excellence, formalize artisan networks, and transform local ingenuity into globally competitive manufacturing. 'Governor Otti's administration is focused on rebuilding Aba not just as a market, but as a factory to the world,' said a government representative familiar with the discussions. 'Yikodeen is the right partner at the right time — their success story speaks for itself, and this collaboration aligns with our ambition to industrialise Abia at scale.' The discussions are ongoing, with joint technical assessments already being scheduled to identify suitable land, infrastructure, and logistics requirements for the project. The parties are optimistic that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed in the coming weeks. At its core, this initiative is more than just an industrial expansion, it is a bold statement about African self-reliance, ingenuity, and economic transformation. With Yikodeen's expertise and Abia's unmatched footwear legacy, a new chapter in Africa's manufacturing history is about to begin, with Aba and Nigeria leading the charge. About Yikodeen Yikodeen Company Limited is Nigeria's leading safety footwear manufacturer, producing protective and performance-driven footwear for industries across oil & gas, construction, agriculture, education, and security. Certified by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and trusted by major corporations, Yikodeen stands as a homegrown champion of industrial excellence, local content, and inclusive economic growth.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Nigeria: Obasanjo, Otti launch health insurance scheme for Abia workers
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, alongside former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday launched the Formal Sector Health Insurance Scheme to provide accessible and affordable healthcare for workers in Abia State. Also launched were the Free Hearing Aid Distribution initiative and a Free Medical Outreach, all aimed at improving healthcare delivery for the people of Abia. Speaking in Umuahia during the launch, Governor Alex Otti said his vision for healthcare delivery is to build a system that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the local population. The governor assured that no one in the New Abia would be denied access to health services due to financial constraints. He stated that the launch of the triple-barrel initiative would revolutionize service delivery and access to healthcare. 'The formal sector health insurance scheme will see tens of thousands of civil servants and their dependents enrolled for round-the-clock, quality health services at designated facilities across the state. 'This initiative is structured to drastically reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for individuals in formal sector employment, minimize risks associated with self-medication, and create demand for medical services in public health facilities in both urban and rural communities,' Gov. Otti stated. He said the scheme would go beyond the provision of essential medical diagnostics and laboratory services, offering surgical, orthopedic, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological services to enrollees. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on individuals and families, particularly in emergencies, and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates. He expressed hope that employees in various ministries, departments, and agencies would take full advantage of the programme. According to him, the Medical Outreach Programme targets the poor and vulnerable and seeks to eliminate the practice of conducting medical outreaches in open locations. He also noted that the hearing aid distribution initiative would benefit 1,000 individuals. 'This particular project—the medical outreach—is the first of its kind. It will ultimately abolish the era of conducting medical programmes in open fields, market squares, or community halls. 'I would like to use this opportunity to reiterate the ban placed by the state government on the use of public schools, markets, religious centers, and other unauthorized locations for medical outreaches. 'The Sound Intervention Hearing Mission will distribute premium hearing aids and support systems to 1,000 individuals with hearing impairments, selected from different states and communities in the South East region,' Gov. Otti said. He commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for championing the Sound Intervention Hearing Mission 2025, a project sponsored by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation in partnership with the Abia State Government. Unveiling the projects, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo commended Governor Otti for his progressive healthcare policies and congratulated him on prioritizing the health sector. He said the drive to improve healthcare delivery was one of the reasons behind the establishment of his foundation. 'Health security—which is what we are promoting here today, and health for all—is what inspired me to establish health insurance. 'Nigeria is a potentially great nation. With people like you, Gov. Otti, we will achieve our potential. So we are here to launch the Abia State medical outreach and promote healthcare delivery for all. This is very important,' Obasanjo stated. He added that one of the areas of interest for his foundation is hearing health and emphasized that hearing loss is not a stigma, as it can develop with age. He advocated for the training of professionals who can manage hearing aids and related challenges. In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the event marked a historic milestone in Abia State. He explained that the health insurance scheme is contributory—employees will contribute 5%, while the government covers the remaining share. He disclosed that for the first six months of the scheme, workers would contribute 2.5% of their basic salaries, with the government covering the remaining 2.5%. He revealed that the government has provided ₦1 billion as a take-off fund for the scheme. Uche described the initiative as a significant step toward achieving universal health coverage and urged all civil servants to register promptly. He further noted that the hearing aid distribution reflects the government's commitment—through partnerships—to state development, while the free medical outreach will reduce patronage of quack health practitioners. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Chiedozie Egwuonwu, said the initiative is a testament to Governor Otti's unwavering commitment to delivering affordable, quality healthcare, particularly for public sector workers. He added that the scheme is designed to safeguard the health of government workers and their families, and it would cover treatment for common illnesses and emergencies. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
