Aruwa Capital has set its sights on turning Yikodeen, a homegrown safety footwear manufacturer, into a West African export powerhouse. Founded by entrepreneur Yinka Atunde, Yikodeen is tapping into growing workplace health and safety regulations, positioning itself as a go-to supplier for industries that can no longer compromise on protective gear.
“This is the right time for a company like Yikodeen,” said Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, managing partner at Aruwa Capital. “Tighter regulations and compliance demands are creating strong market pull, and Yikodeen is perfectly placed to meet that.”
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector — once dominated by imports — is now increasingly favouring “local content” contracts, which reward companies that source from Nigerian manufacturers, employ domestic talent, and work with indigenous suppliers. Yikodeen stands out as one of the few local producers certified by the National Content Development and Monitoring Board to provide safety boots to the industry.
The company also enjoys a rare financial advantage: several of its corporate clients pay in U.S. dollars. This has helped buffer the impact of the naira’s sharp decline, protecting revenues and offering stability in a volatile currency environment.
Before Aruwa’s involvement, Yikodeen could produce about 30,000 pairs of safety boots per year. Now, with fresh investment and an expansion drive, capacity is expected to multiply tenfold. Rhodes hinted that this is just the beginning, with potential new markets opening up across West Africa.
“Our ambition goes beyond Nigeria,” she said. “There’s regional demand for quality, locally made safety gear — and we intend to meet it.”
