Nominee: Shoe Designer Of The Year 2019

My name is Akudo Iheakanwa and I was born in Australia to a Nigerian father and Australian mother. I relocated myself and the Shekudo brand (which I co-founded) across to Lagos in 2017 with the aim of contributing to the manufacturing sector in Nigeria and shedding more light on the often overlooked artisan and craftsmanship scene. With a major focus on sustainability, Shekudo seeks to integrate some of the age-old techniques and under utilized local resources into our contemporary aesthetic, such as weaving, silver and woodwork.