The management of Enyimba Automated Shoe Company, ENASCO was fully preoccupied with issues of operating an industrial concern in Nigeria's turbulent economy w!hen the company began to trend on the social media.


Being an ongoing concern with several shareholders and a  5-Man Management Board, the company had to respond to the unwelcome intrusion tactically and diplomatically without being drawn into the fray



In its response, Mr C. C. Atasie, the Company Secretary stated that "The present administration of Dr. Alex Otti did not shut down or abandon the Company, rather there are Government officers who have contributed to the growth of the Company and the Company has a cordial relationship with the present administration.


"The Company therefore categorically states that at no given time since the present administration came on board was the Company shut down. The Company is operational as it stands and thriving"



ENASCO is a legacy project of former governor,  Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, borne out of his vision to make Aba the MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) capital of  Nig

Aba's  artisanship prowess especially in  garment and leather works was already established across the length and breadth of the Country and even beyond Nigeria's shores. Thus banking on Aba's comparative advantage in leather and garment works, the former governor sought to enhance what already exists.


Dr Ikpeazu's picture of Aba's comparative advantage was in its human resources which he described as a vibrant population with enterprising spirit and diligence in labour.


He promised to compliment the human resource base with competent leadership team of skilled and proven executors to transform the businesses of the city to achieve commercial scale and world class appeal. That way the ‘Made in Aba’ products will become something to be proud of and Aba made products in shoe/ leather, garments and other sub-sectors could be displayed in global retail chains and markets. 


Dr Ikpeazu, working closely with the Shoe, Bag, Belt and Trunk box Manufacturers Association of Abia State selected 30 youths who were sent abroad for Train-The-Trainer training. On their return, they were to retrain and train the skilled artisan needed to reposition the Aba brand into an international standard.


The State also organised other courses where contingents visited several shoe factories overseas where they were exposed to different machines which are used in making shoes. The essence of this exposure was to familiarize Aba shoe manufacturers with mechanized methods of manufacturing shoes which is vogue in other parts of the world. It was also to elevate their skill with training and exposure to modern technology to enhance capacity.


On their return, ENASCO was born with brand new automated machines targeting an annual production capacity of 2 million pair of shoes.


ENASCO's take off products  include work boots, school shoes, military desert boots, police shoes, dress shoes for men among others and currently the company has distributors in Lagos, Abuja and towns in Abia State in addition to online sales platforms.


During his tenure, Dr Ikpeazu was ENASCO's chief marketing officer as he relentlessly lobbied the Federal Government to issue a directive to military and para-military outfits in the country to procure their foot wears from Aba. He severally argued that garment makers and shoemakers in Aba have been equipped and are ready to kit the Nigerian military.


 “We have no business importing military boots when what is produced here locally is more superior to that which is brought into the country", he preached


Nonetheless, the Ikpeazu administration recognised that Governments in Nigeria has never successfully operated any enterprise, thus ENASCO's share holding structure was shared between the Abia government which owns 27% of the stocks and other investors, numbering five in number sharing 73% among them.


At its commissioning in 2022, the Company had  significant private partners’ participation and on the Management Board are very respectable persons, including Mr. John Udeagbala (immediate past  NACCIMA President);  Mazi Williams  Okechukwu, (Current President LEPMASS); Mr. Chidi J. Nwakile,  (Core Investor and a Diaspora Nigerian); Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, Hon. Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry (representing Abia State Government) and Sir Mac Atasie,  (Pioneer President of EPPAN and Serial Investor in the Shoe Sector). 


The board was charged to run the factory like a proper business and consolidate the position of Aba and Abia State as a global hub for shoe and other leather products, as well to bring their wealth of experience in developing a brand that will compete favourably in the competitive global market. 


The General Manager of ENASCO, Mr Hogan Nkute  said the company is priming itself to enter the international market and is scaling its operations funded by the private sector investors.


"Despite the challenging economic condition in the country, the Company is thriving and positioned to be one of the strongest (biggest) indigenous shoe companies in the whole of Africa.  The Company is operational, functioning and has the capacity of producing 5, 000 (Five Thousand) pairs of shoes per day


"The shareholders ENASCO  are responsible Nigerians committed to its corporate vision which is to be a leading shoe manufacturer in West Africa and indeed Africa leveraging the expertise of Aba shoe making prowess. And the job of management is to make profit for shareholders and support Abia State Government to reduce unemployment and create a pool of  skilled labour", he submitted.