Manny Ohonme: From One Pair of Shoes to a Global Movement – World Shoe’s Bold Vision Unveiled at NBPA HQ
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New York, October 2025 — During the One Court Africa Reception at the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Headquarters in New York City — hosted in partnership with the NBPA Foundation, World Shoe, and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) — one voice stood out as both deeply personal and profoundly global: Manny Ohonme, Founder and President of World Shoe.
For Manny, the story of World Shoe is not just about manufacturing footwear. It is a story of dignity, health, hope, and the power of one idea to transform millions of lives.
From One Pair of Shoes to a World of Opportunity
Manny’s journey began with a single act of kindness. Over forty years ago, a missionary placed a pair of shoes on the feet of a young Nigerian boy. That boy was Manny.
“That single pair of shoes inspired me to dream,” Manny shared. “It allowed me to play basketball, earn a scholarship, and eventually come to America. That moment changed my life — and planted the seed for everything that would come after.”
Driven by this legacy, Manny and his wife Tracie founded Samaritan’s Feet, a humanitarian organization that has since served more than 12 million people across 113 countries and 650 U.S. cities. But Manny quickly realized that charity alone was not enough.
From Charity to Social Enterprise
“We knew we couldn’t solve this problem just through charity,” Manny explained. “We had to create jobs, spark innovation, and build a social enterprise that could scale solutions from Africa, for Africa.”
That conviction gave birth to World Shoe, a revolutionary African footwear company headquartered in Akosombo, Ghana. With catalytic funding secured three years ago, World Shoe launched the continent’s first factory of its kind — capable of producing five million antimicrobial, eco-friendly shoes annually, while creating over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
*“Every pair we manufacture is more than footwear,” Manny said. “It’s a catalyst for health, for opportunity, for hope. It’s proof that Africa can lead the world with innovation.”
Shoes as a Weapon Against Poverty and Disease
World Shoe products are not ordinary footwear. Manufactured from durable EVA foam and infused with antimicrobial and biodegradable agents, the shoes help fight against neglected tropical diseases while reducing environmental waste.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, one in four people in Africa still live without shoes,” Manny declared. “Children are kept from school, workers are exposed to disease, and cycles of poverty persist. Shoes should not be a luxury. They are a basic human right.”
Beyond distribution, World Shoe has pioneered a model that blends dignity with impact: when volunteers deliver shoes, they wash children’s feet, learn their names, and remind them they were created for greatness. “It’s not just about shoes,” Manny said. “It’s about awakening destiny.”
Global Partnerships: NBPA & OAFLAD
At the One Court Africa Reception, Manny celebrated new partnerships that will help scale the mission.
The NBPA Foundation committed financial support and player engagement, announcing a $20,000 donation to advance World Shoe’s work.
Special thanks to NBA players Ochai Agbaji with the Toronto Raptors, founder of the Young Agbaji Foundation, and Sion James with the Charlotte Hornets, founder of the Sion James Foundation, for the generous gift of $30,000 that will be matched by the NBPA, to bring the total raised to $80,000 at the event, in providing World Shoes to youth on the continent through the Wash and Wear initiatives planned with OAFLAD.
Erika Swilley, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation, reflected on the moment:
“This is bigger than basketball. It’s about sustainability, dignity, and standing with leaders who are shaping the future. Players have incredible influence, and when directed toward health and education in Africa, the ripple effect is massive.”
Manny also underscored the partnership with OAFLAD, noting that First Ladies across Africa are uniquely positioned to integrate footwear into health and education strategies.
“We want to impact a million people in the next year alone,” he said. “Shoes that prevent disease, get children back in school, and remind communities they have not been forgotten.”
Innovation for Health, Jobs, and the Planet
Perhaps most striking is World Shoe’s ecological innovation. Unlike most footwear that lingers in landfills for thousands of years, World Shoe products are biodegradable within three to five years.
“This is African innovation leading the world,” Manny stated. “We are fighting poverty and disease, creating jobs, and protecting the planet — all through a single product.”
A Movement, Not Just a Brand
As the evening closed, Manny reminded the audience that World Shoe is more than a company — it is a movement.
“We are not just manufacturing shoes. We are manufacturing hope. We are proving that Africa is not waiting for the world to save it — Africa is leading the way.”
The One Court Africa Reception was proof of that vision. With the NBPA, OAFLAD, Africell, and leaders across continents, World Shoe has positioned itself not only as a brand but as a symbol of African excellence and global transformation.