Yinka Atunde, a computer science graduate of Babcock University, pivoted into shoemaking after a delayed NYSC programme pushed him to rethink his career path. What began with training in Italy, factory experience in Nigeria, and the production of just 20 pairs of shoes a day has grown into Yikodeen, West Africa’s largest safety footwear manufacturer. In 2025, he raised $1.5 million from Aruwa Capital Management to expand its industrial footprint.
Most people don’t spend four years studying Computer Science at Babcock, one of the best universities in Nigeria, only to graduate and decide they want to make shoes. But Yinka Atunde was never particularly interested in walking the expected path.
Ten years ago, Atunde found himself at a crossroads. He had completed his university education and was preparing for the next phase of life when an unexpected delay in his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme created space for a decision that would ultimately change his life.
The delay, which coincided with the political transition that brought President Muhammadu Buhari into office in 2015, stretched for almost a year. Atunde suddenly found himself with a blank calendar and a question to answer.
