Aba in Abia State prides itself as the “Japan of Africa”, and a creativity hub in Nigeria. The appellation came through the dexterity and ingenuity of its artisans which have endeared it to investors within and outside the country.

Made in Aba products are fast capturing the world market and shoes are no exemption.

Indeed, the shoe section of Ariaria International Market in Aba reveals the ingenuity and the enterprising spirit of the people. This section comprises the Bakassi Zone, Shoe Plaza, Power Line and Imo Avenue. The section is populated with artisans who churn out shoes of different kinds and is estimated to house over 70, 000 shoemakers besides the apprentices under their tutelage.

Various levels of production, marketing and transportation of the products are involved in shoe-making. While the artisans are busy producing, traders from within and outside Nigeria are picking products of their choice while transporters are evacuating them for onward movement to their respective destinations.

Also, dealers on raw materials such as leather, shoe soles, gum, fibre and other accessories make good sales. Women are also compete for patronage at various stages of production.

Interestingly too, the trade is no longer a business for school dropouts and semi- illiterates as graduates are now actively engaged in it. Little wonder, new innovations are being introduced to the trade.

The chairman Power line Shoe Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (POSMAN), Comrade Joseph Nmeri, told Daily Trust on Saturday that they are impressed with the decision of the Nigerian Army to purchase 50,000 pairs of boots from Aba. He said it is a feat which would encourage local manufacturers.

Nmeri added that shoes produced in Aba can last up to three years because of their quality. However, despite the assurance on quality, shoe manufacturers in Ariaria still find it difficult to label their products “Made in Nigeria.”

According to Nmeri, from the early 80’s, manufacturers were labelling products ‘Made in Aba’ and traders were coming from various parts of Africa to place orders. There was no challenge then but sales issues began when Nigeria signed a bilateral trade agreement with China.

He said the Chinese flooded the markets with their shoes.

“To be able to sell our products, we were compelled by the attitude of Nigerians to label our products “Made-in-China” because our customers believed that Chinese shoes were superior.

Also the Chairman, Aba North Industrial Market (Shoe Plaza division), Christian Okoro, said the order by the Nigerian Army was the beginning of good things for the country and products made in Aba, as it can handle demands from even outside the country.

He pointed out that Aba-made products are exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Italy, where they are given more touches and imported back to Nigeria and marketed as foreign shoes. Three major factors, according to him, are responsible for this practice. They include craze for foreign goods, lack of interest in locally made products and the absence of modern machines and equipment for perfect finishing on the products.

Okoro said if provided the needed materials and enabling environment, foreign shoes would be no match to those produced in Aba, adding that most of the artisans would be proud to label their products “Made-in-Aba”. He identified their major challenges as high cost of raw materials, importation of inferior materials, especially gum and chemicals and the unwillingness of leather producers in Kano to sell genuine items.

Other daunting challenges, according to him, include unstable power supply, absence of modern equipment and machines, poor access roads and lack of funds. He called for government intervention, especially in the provision of modern machines which he said, would make their products compete favourably in the international market.

He also appealed to the federal government for financial assistance to artisans. He said a loan of N1billion could change the stories of the over 70,000 shoe makers in the market. This will enable them acquire modern shoe-threading machines among others, he added.

An artisan, Elder Kenneth Nwachukwu, who specialises in military and paramilitary shoes and belts, said he needed some funds to acquire the right machines that would enable him manufacture with better finishing.

He said: “Already, we have orders from contractors for the Civil Defence, Police, Navy and National Youth Service Corps. We produce some of the shoes and the contractors buy them at cheap rates.”

Lawrence Agochi, a 42 year- old father of five with 27 years experience in shoe making, identified lack of funds as his major setback.

He said he could produce an average of 50 pairs of shoes a day, but could triple the quantity with improved equipment. He said he needed N2 million to upgrade his machines.

Another shoe maker, Paul Madubike, who has been on the job for 15 years, said he was a fulfilled man. But like his colleagues, the 40 year-old identified irregular power supply and lack of modern equipment as his major challenges. According to him, with modern equipment he could produce 200 pairs of shoes a day to meet increasing demands from his customers.

In the same vein, Mr. Ike­chukwu Anaele, Paul Maduabuchi and Boniface Ejike all expressed satisfaction being shoe makers but also identified lack of facilities as major setbacks. They pleaded for government’s intervention to make progress.

They want the government to also ensure that the needed facilities are provided at the proposed industrial cluster for shoes, garments, belts and bags workers at Umukalika in Obingwa council area before relocating the artisans to the new site. This will boost their morale, they said. The artisans expressed readiness to improve on the quality of their products to enjoy the much desired local and international patronage.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/aba-we-struggle-to-produce-made-in-nigeria-shoes/174307.html#MUWeVzWmCu3IXXZ2.99

Don't worry my brothers. Hard work pays, but softwork seems to dey pay pass

ikp120:
Don't worry my brothers. Hard work pays, but softwork seems to dey pay pass

...ahn Nigerians look at how we made it..
We dey turn up on a daily
it’s our work oh
ahn yea soft work
yea it’s our work oh
ahn yea soft work
ahn yea it’s our work oh

I wonder what all Abia state Governors have been doing to promote the production here.
If the governments were serious, Abia should be talking about her GDP in trillion Naira now!

It is high time the producers started branding their products and stopped the Aididas, Nicke, Tomberland, Looise Vuitton, Mack and Spender et al we see around!

Good initiative

Aba shoes will remain Aba shoes forever bcus they can not do shoes and cloths, as long is my igbo brothers that are producing them. Though It will look good in d eyes of d igbo but d thing is, it can never look good to Nigerians talkless of d world.

I will advice my brothers and sisters frm d eastern part to stick strictly to their importation of goods and and selling them and let d Yorubas and Hausas and other tribe to handle shoe production / manufacturing of commodities like it has always been.

Do not waste resources on something that will not be viable and productive at d end.


#Truth is mine

Did anyone see that flat headed man in blue clothing ?

It's a pity

Never get tired of trying my Ibo counterparts. Rome wasn't built in a day. Even China that is now producer of everything started frm ceramic plates. The stone the builders rejected will one day become the chief corner stone. I'm a Yoruba man bt I envy you guys the way u do businesses with passion. Keep it up, we will all soon get to our promise lands if we dont relent.

.

slow and steady....... win the race

Rome was not build in a day

You will get there


Keep pushing


Don't give up


He go better

Exactly

Tolexander:
I wonder what all Abia state Governors have been doing to promote the production here.
If the governments were serious, Abia should be talking about her GDP in trillion Naira now!

It is high time the producers started branding their products and stopped the Aididas, Nicke, Tomberland, Looise Vuitton, Mack and Spender et al we see around!

stop eating ponmo my brown roof pple.

.

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g

badaoyeyemi:
.

booking space? got ya

We Know it's not easy but you guys have come thus far even without govt assistance. You will do greater exploits especially as the Abia state govt. is actively keying in. FG is doing something also... It will get better.








I'm not Igbo but i salute the resilience of the Igbo people.

Dem dey try.

seuncyber:
Rome was not build in a day You will get there Keep pushing Don't give up He go better

amen

Keep working, baba God will answer ur cal.

They should work on their packaging, it would gain them more market.

igbos are the pillars of nigeria....if na lie ....abreakout from Nigeria will tell how Japanese we are

They are complaınıng of raw materials lıke gum and chemıcal... ı tınk It's tıme the govt looks ınto the manufacturers... raw materials for gum and chemıcal production are now goıng extınct even the ones we got from naıja refınery(naphtalene)... shoe makers should complaın more ooo cos by next year, goıng ın the same level as thıs year, gum and chemıcal fıt no even dey agaın

Tolexander:
I wonder what all Abia state Governors have been doing to promote the production here.
If the governments were serious, Abia should be talking about her GDP in trillion Naira now!

It is high time the producers started branding their products and stopped the Aididas, Nicke, Tomberland, Looise Vuitton, Mack and Spender et al we see around!

.
My brother you wicked oo, you never see apple jean before? Tommy hilifer,adidos,Giorgio amami etc . na dem no value their product o if not they will brand their it and give it their real name, see how Techno and Infinix broke the market.

We concur

Igbo's are indeed industrious

Nice one my people. But like someone asked above, what has successive governors be doing. For a fleeting second I wished I was a govnor there. I would have held a meeting with them and source for a revolving loan for them. A scheme that will give funds to different groups who will return it at a stipulated time and same fund given to another group and so on.

I am smelling Nigerian mentality here, someone with 27 years experience cant save enough to improve his equipments? Sometimes we dont need the government to come and dash us money, we just have to be business minded.

I think what they need is not loans but seminars on how to plan and execute a business plan with space for expansion

They are doing a good job tho, but can always do better

pinkyruledworld:
booking space? got ya