Kashim Shettima should get back at all his critics by revolutionising the Nigerian footwear industry if he gets elected 

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Across sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that about 20m children walk about barefoot. In Nigeria, we so not have precise figures but with about 80m people living below the poverty line, you can just imagine how many barefoot kids we have walking around the country

[2] According to Helping Hand for Relief and Development, the threat of being barefoot lies in the exposure to sharp objects, harmful bacteria or infections in the soil and contaminated stagnant water and most days burning heat on the ground kids walk on. In addition, intestinal worms such as hookworms can make their way into the skin more easily. Without immediate and proper treatment, these infections can lead to chronic illness, amputations and death

[3] Despite being overlooked, shoes play a vital role in everyday life. For many African parents, the frightening reality lies in the decision between buying food or shoes for their kids

[4] Does anyone know how many Almajiris lack shoes in Nigeria? I would argue that we need a National Used Shoe Bank where those without footwear can go to at least get a pair of slippers

[5] Just imagine how a state governor will go down in history if he ends the menace of barefoot children in Nigeria. He will etch his name in gold

[6] After all this stick he has received over the last 48 hours, Kashim Shettima should draw up a Nigerian National Shoe Plan. It should be his way of turning adversity into something positive 

[7] With a population of 200m people, surely Nigeria must manufacture at least 400m shoes a year. Maybe this is just a case of poor record keeping but I would like to know how many pairs of shoes our local cobblers produce annually

[8] Do you know that the global footwear industry is worth $365.5bn? China alone exports about $47.2bn worth of shoes annually, which is about the same amount of revenue Nigeria generates from crude oil a year

[9] Nigeria needs mega cattle ranches to produce leather like yesterday. Also, our state governors need to reach out to the likes of Nike, Adidas, Puma, Crocs, Converse, Reebok, Birkenstock, New Balance, Dr Martens, Brooks, etc, offering them five-year tax holidays, 50 year land leases, etc if they open manufacturing plants that employ a minimum of 1,000 staff

[10] Nigeria may not have noticed it but since 2010, Adidas has cut the share of footwear it makes in China in half. Vietnam has absorbed most of that business and with the coronavirus pandemic, this process is likely to be accelerated with companies like Adidas looking for new locations for their manufacturing plants like Nigeria

Top 10 global shoe producers 
[1] China- 12.6bn
[2] India - 2.1bn 
[3] Brazil- 895m 
[4] Vietnam- 760m
[5] Indonesia - 660m
[6] Pakistan - 295m 
[7] Thailand - 245m
[8] Mexico- 245m
[9] Italy - 205m
[10] Turkey - 175m