Ebonyi Female Shoemaker Launches One-Week Marathon to Empower Youths and Break Gender Barriers

By Peter Okutu | 23 September 2025

A young shoemaker in Ebonyi State is set to make history with a bold initiative aimed at empowering youths and challenging gender stereotypes in a male-dominated craft.

Sharon Ijuolachi Akpa, an Abakaliki-based entrepreneur, has announced a One Week Open Space Shoemaking Project, a non-stop shoemaking marathon that will run from Wednesday, 24 September to 30 September at Tropicana Restaurant, 21 Aloh Street, Abakaliki.

The project is free to attend and promises hands-on training for participants, many of whom will also join a community movement built around creativity and self-reliance.

“For me, shoemaking is not just craft; it is empowerment,” Sharon said while unveiling the initiative. “What if I tell you that you can learn the basics of shoemaking in just one week for free? This is my way of sharing my journey and inspiring others to become self-reliant.”

As part of the marathon, most of the shoes produced will be donated to schools, reinforcing Sharon’s vision of giving back to society.

Her journey into shoemaking began during her youth service after university, a decision she says transformed her life and gave birth to a second business — a restaurant venture.

“Shoemaking made me self-reliant. I want to encourage young people, especially girls, to embrace it. This is your golden opportunity to learn, to connect with like-minded people, and to break stereotypes,” she said.

Traditionally seen as men’s work, shoemaking in Ebonyi and across Nigeria rarely features women at the forefront. Sharon is determined to change that narrative, using her project to prove that skill, style, and entrepreneurship know no gender.

The week-long marathon is expected to attract youths across the state, offering them not only training but also inspiration to pursue creative crafts as a path to independence.