Yikodeen Sales Executives and NOGOF Guests
Following its recent strategic investment from Aruwa Capital Management and successful participation at the Nigerian Oil & Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Bayelsa, Yikodeen, Nigeria’s leading indigenous footwear manufacturer, will officially unveil its newly expanded manufacturing facility at a grand recommissioning event on June 24, 2025.
The unveiling represents a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s local content promotion by NCDMB and positions Yikodeen as home to the most technologically advanced safety footwear production facility in West Africa.
The recommissioning ceremony, to be held at the company’s manufacturing headquarters in Lagos, will reveal the culmination of months of intensive equipment installation, facility upgrades, and workforce training. Industry leaders, government officials, and media representatives have been invited to witness this significant step towards a more self-reliant and globally competitive Nigerian manufacturing sector, with Yikodeen leading the transformation.
As a testament to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s unwavering support for local manufacturing and capacity development, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe has been duly appointed as the Special Guest of Honour at the recommissioning of the Yikodeen Factory. His presence at the event will not only underscore the Board’s commitment to deepening Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry but also further solidify the strategic partnership between NCDMB and Yikodeen as the only approved safety footwear manufacturer and supplier in the sector.
“This facility represents a new chapter of possibilities not just for Yikodeen, but for Nigerian manufacturing as a whole,” said Yinka Shamsideen, Founder and CEO of Yikodeen. “What guests will see on June 24 is proof of what’s possible when we bet on ourselves, world-class ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ products that compete globally while addressing local needs. Our recent success at NOGOF demonstrates the industry’s confidence in our capabilities to serve Nigeria’s most critical sectors.”
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The redesigned facility accommodates specialized production lines dedicated to multiple product categories, enabling simultaneous manufacturing with category-specific expertise across industrial safety footwear suitable for different industries including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, and mining, back-to-school shoes designed for educational institutions, military and paramilitary footwear meeting rigorous security and defense sector demands, and athletic footwear under the popular Yiko Plus brand for sports and casual wear.
A major breakthrough for the Nigerian manufacturing sector, the facility features complete sole manufacturing capability, reducing dependency on imported components and ensuring quality control from raw materials to finished products. The on-site standard testing laboratory ensures all products meet or exceed ISO and ASTM international standards, providing customers with certified quality assurance. Demonstrating commitment to sustainable manufacturing, the facility operates on alternative power sources, ensuring consistent production capacity while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
Complementing these technical advancements, an in-house training center supports continuous upskilling of the workforce, ensuring Yikodeen’s team remains at the cutting edge of footwear manufacturing technology and techniques.
With these upgrades, Yikodeen will increase its production capacity from 500 pairs daily to a projected 2,500 pairs at full operation, making it the largest footwear manufacturer in West Africa. This tenfold increase in capacity is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs, bringing the company’s total workforce to nearly 500 skilled employees. Central to Yikodeen’s expansion strategy is a strong commitment to women’s and youth empowerment, ensuring these demographics are pivotal in its employment strategy, creating meaningful opportunities that strengthen local communities while building a diverse, skilled workforce capable of operating advanced manufacturing technology.
“This facility represents what’s possible when homegrown businesses receive the right investment and support,” noted Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management. “Yikodeen exemplifies how strategic capital combined with visionary leadership can transform industries and create a significant economic impact.”
The recommissioning event will include guided tours of the production facilities showcasing over a thousand machines and equipment, live demonstrations of the new manufacturing processes across all product lines.
