Made in Nigeria, Built for the World: Sanwo-Olu to Commission West Africa’s Largest Safety Footwear Factory
In a major win for Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is set to commission the largest safety footwear factory in the country—and in all of West Africa. According to a NewsVista reporter, the commissioning is scheduled for June 24, 2025, and it represents a bold leap forward in the journey toward industrial self-reliance.
The massive facility belongs to Yikodeen Company Limited, a proudly Nigerian brand that started its journey in 2016 producing just 20 pairs of safety boots per day. Fast-forward to today, and the newly expanded 120,000-square-foot factory now boasts the ability to roll out 5,000 pairs daily—a staggering transformation in less than a decade.
Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Yikodeen CEO Atunde Olayinka described the factory launch as a symbol of what is possible when “vision, talent, and capital work together.” For him, this isn’t just a facility—it’s a statement about the future of Nigerian industry.
The factory is fitted with state-of-the-art European machinery, advanced quality control systems, and integrated processes that power the production of industrial safety boots, educational footwear, and even the company’s expanding Yiko Plus athletic shoe line.
Backing the factory’s growth is Aruwa Capital Management, a female-founded private equity firm that invested a multi-million-dollar sum to scale the project. The result? Over 180 skilled jobs already created, with 20 more in the pipeline as production hits peak capacity.
Yikodeen’s impact is expected to be massive—injecting more than ₦5 billion annually into the Nigerian economy through local hiring, procurement, and value chain collaboration.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, known for his commitment to job creation and local enterprise, is expected to highlight the state government’s continued push for homegrown industrialization. This milestone, officials say, is in line with Lagos State’s broader goal of reducing import dependency and building globally competitive indigenous industries.
The excitement surrounding the commissioning is already spreading across the local business landscape, with many viewing it as a turning point for Nigerian-made products.
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