From Computer Science Graduate To Safety Footwear Mogul

After earning a Computer Science degree from Babcock University, Atunde appeared destined for a traditional technology career. Like many young Nigerian graduates, he considered pursuing further studies abroad and building a future in the corporate world.

However, an unexpected delay in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in 2015 created a rare opportunity to pause and reconsider his next move.

Instead of waiting for the programme to resume, Atunde made a decision that surprised many around him. He asked his parents for permission to spend a year learning shoemaking.

That unconventional choice would eventually lead to the creation of Yikodeen, now recognized as West Africa’s largest safety footwear manufacturer and one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing industrial manufacturing companies.

The journey began with curiosity. Atunde noticed that Nigeria relied heavily on imported footwear despite having a large consumer market and abundant entrepreneurial talent. Determined to understand the industry, he travelled to Italy to study shoemaking techniques and later visited factories in China to observe large-scale production systems.

Rather than launching a business immediately upon returning home, he took a different approach. He worked directly on the factory floor of a Nigerian footwear company. The experience gave him firsthand insight into production challenges, operational inefficiencies, and the realities of local manufacturing.

That exposure revealed a major gap in the market.

While fashion footwear attracted many local producers, industrial safety footwear remained almost entirely dependent on imports.

The sector demanded advanced production standards, rigorous testing, international certifications, and strict quality control. For many entrepreneurs, those barriers looked intimidating. For Atunde, they represented an opportunity.

He became convinced that Nigerian manufacturers could compete in the safety footwear industry if they focused relentlessly on quality and innovation.

Building the business proved far more difficult than identifying the opportunity.

Modern machinery required significant capital, and purchasing new industrial equipment was beyond the reach of the young company. Instead of abandoning the vision, Atunde searched for alternative solutions.

His research led him to Nigeria’s forgotten manufacturing history.

Across the country, abandoned footwear factories sat dormant, many filled with ageing equipment left behind after decades of economic challenges and increasing imports. Atunde travelled from state to state searching for machines that others had written off.

He visited more than 15 defunct factories and acquired old equipment wherever he could find it. Together with local engineers, he restored machines that had been inactive for years. The process required patience, creativity, and resilience. Breakdowns happened frequently, while sourcing replacement parts often became a challenge.

Nevertheless, those restored machines helped lay the foundation for what would become one of Nigeria’s most successful manufacturing stories.

Even after establishing production capacity, another obstacle emerged.

Many large corporations operating in Nigeria preferred imported safety footwear. Convincing buyers to trust a locally manufactured alternative became an uphill battle. Rejections arrived repeatedly. Contracts remained elusive. Testing and certification processes consumed scarce resources.

Yet Atunde refused to give up.

Instead, Yikodeen focused on continuous improvement. The company refined its products, invested in testing, gathered customer feedback, and returned to prospective clients with stronger offerings.

Gradually, the market began to respond.

Support from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) created opportunities for product testing within the oil and gas sector. Local content initiatives also encouraged more companies to consider Nigerian-made industrial products.

After years of persistence, the breakthrough finally arrived.

In 2022, Yikodeen secured approval for a major contract to supply 10,000 safety shoes to the Nigerian Police Force. The deal marked a turning point for the business and validated years of investment in quality assurance and product development.

Momentum accelerated rapidly.

Today, Yikodeen serves more than 50 organizations across multiple industries. Its client portfolio includes major corporations such as the Dangote Group, NLNG, Seplat, BUA, Saipem, and the Nigerian Army.

As demand increased, the company faced a new challenge: scaling production.

That challenge attracted investor attention.

In 2025, Yikodeen secured $1.5 million in funding from Aruwa Capital Management, providing the capital required to expand operations and strengthen its manufacturing capacity.

The investment supported the launch of a world-class production facility in Ejigbo, Lagos. The facility can manufacture more than 5,000 pairs of shoes within 24 hours and employs approximately 500 workers. Notably, women account for more than 61 percent of the workforce, highlighting the company’s commitment to inclusive industrial growth.

For Atunde, however, the funding represents more than financial validation.

It signals the beginning of a broader vision.

While safety footwear remains Yikodeen’s core business, the company plans to expand into industrial safety equipment and personal protective products. Many of these products are still imported into Nigeria, creating significant opportunities for local manufacturing.

The entrepreneur believes Yikodeen’s success demonstrates that African manufacturers can compete successfully against global brands when quality, innovation, and persistence remain central priorities.

His story also challenges long-standing assumptions about what is possible in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.

A delayed NYSC programme may have altered his original plans, but it ultimately led to the creation of a company helping redefine industrial production across West Africa.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Atunde offers a simple lesson. Manufacturing demands patience, discipline, and resilience. Success rarely comes quickly. However, those willing to endure the challenges can create lasting impact.

A decade after stepping away from the technology path many expected him to follow, Yinka Atunde stands at the forefront of a manufacturing revolution—one pair of safety boots at a time.