By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Nigeria is seeking technical expertise and industry partnerships from Spain to strengthen local footwear manufacturing, improve production standards and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian shoe manufacturers.
The move followed an engagement by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, and representatives of INESCOP, Pikolinos and Hispanitas in (Elda) Alicante Province.
The meeting, explored opportunities for technology transfer, technical training, quality management, certification and business collaboration between Nigerian and Spanish footwear manufacturers.
During a visit to INESCOP, a footwear technology centre in Elda, Alicante, Ikpeazu held discussions with its Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, on technical cooperation, innovation and capacity-building programmes for Nigerian manufacturers.
INESCOP works with more than 400 member companies across different countries to advance footwear design, materials and manufacturing processes.
The discussions highlighted opportunities to strengthen the skills of Nigerian technicians, manufacturers and support organisations through training, technology transfer, quality management and certification.
The Ambassador also met with the President of AVECAL and representatives of Pikolinos and Hispanitas, where he highlighted the ingenuity and entrepreneurial capacity of Nigerian footwear manufacturers, many of whom operate with limited technological expertise.
Ikpeazu offered to facilitate meetings between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and their Spanish counterparts to promote business-to-business partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Discussions with AVECAL focused on structured partnerships, industry best practices, knowledge-sharing platforms and possible joint programmes to improve the growth and competitiveness of Nigerian footwear businesses.
Engagements with Pikolinos also examined production processes, practical industry experience and possible areas of collaboration to help Nigerian manufacturers modernise their operations and expand their market reach.
Ikpeazu who also visited the facilities of Hispanitas and the headquarters of AVECAL as part of the engagement, was accompanied by Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Senior Counsellor, and Mr Likson Dadi, First Secretary, according to a statement emailed to PerSecondNews, on Tuesday by the Embassy of Nigeria, Madrid.
The AVECAL President assured the envoy of the association’s willingness to partner with the Nigerian Embassy to establish modalities for connecting Spanish businesses with their Nigerian counterparts.
The Spanish industry representatives also expressed readiness to explore practical cooperation, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The engagement forms part of efforts by the Nigerian Mission in Spain, under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing reforms to establish industrial partnerships and attract foreign investment into Nigeria’s manufacturing
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