By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Kaine Gerry-Ofor, a young designer of African/Nigerian descent based in Columbia MD, USA has made history by finishing in The Final Four at the world’s first ever Metaverse Footwear Design Competition.
The PR doyenne Ogo Ogbata of Creativity and Sense Consulting states that “Kaine Gerry-Ofor was the only American citizen to make it to The Final Four.”
In the contest that was concluded during the NBA weekend, the winner was announced on February 21, 2022.
Organised by Hypex, an NFT technology company based in the USA, the HypeX MetaSneaker Brawl received over 100 entries from over 20 countries around the world, which makes it a global event and the first of its kind in history.
Kaine initially studied Architectural Engineering but later found his passion in the arts and thus became a graduate of Digital Arts and Media Design from Pennsylvania University, USA.
The young designer is described as “smart, determined and friendly” on LinkedIn, the professional social media platform.
The son of Chief Gerry Ofor who holds the high title of Ukpaka of Umuchu, Aguata LGA in Anambra State and his beloved wife Uche, Kaine attended Corona and Loyola Jesuit schools in Nigeria before relocating to the USA for further studies.
He won various scholarships at the university and excelled in sport at multiple levels.
According to Ogo Ogbata, “As a footwear/apparel designer and artist, he is very dedicated to storytelling, pushing boundaries yet finding the right balance between practicality and style. His footwear design for this contest received rave reviews for coming across as functional yet fashionable too.”
Kaine is on Instagram via https://www.instagram.com/kaineg04/ and aspires to have a career that combines working both in the Design and Athletic Industries and to further develop his own fashion brand.
“While Black History Month is being celebrated currently,” Ogo Ogbata of Creativity and Sense Consulting stresses finally, “Black Talent today ought also to be celebrated and supported in order for greater strides to be achieved in the future.”