By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria is seeking stronger industrial cooperation with Spain to modernise its footwear manufacturing sector, improve local production capacity and equip Nigerian shoemakers with advanced production technologies.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, disclosed this during a strategic engagement with leading footwear industry representatives in Alicante Province, Spain, on Monday, November 2, 2026.
According to a statement by the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid, the Ambassador met with Vicente Pastor Perez, President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), alongside representatives of INESCOP, Pikolinos and Hispanitas.
The discussions centred on technology transfer, technical training, industrial innovation and opportunities to establish business partnerships between Nigerian and Spanish footwear manufacturers.
A major highlight of the visit was the Ambassador’s engagement with INESCOP, a footwear technology centre based in Elda, Alicante, which supports innovation in footwear design, materials development and manufacturing processes.
Ikpeazu was received by the centre’s Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, who introduced the delegation to its technological facilities and research capabilities.
The engagement explored how INESCOP’s expertise could support Nigerian manufacturers through specialised training, improved production techniques, quality management, certification and sustainable manufacturing practices.
The proposed cooperation is also expected to strengthen the technical capacity of Nigerian footwear companies, technicians and industry support organisations.
During meetings with AVECAL, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ikpeazu highlighted the entrepreneurial skills of Nigerian shoemakers, noting that many produce different categories of footwear despite operating with limited access to modern manufacturing technology.
He expressed the Nigerian Embassy’s readiness to facilitate direct business connections between Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish footwear manufacturers through structured meetings and business-to-business engagements.
Discussions with AVECAL focused on potential partnerships, knowledge-sharing platforms and joint programmes that could improve the competitiveness of Nigerian footwear businesses.
The engagement with Pikolinos provided an opportunity to examine production processes, industry practices and possible areas of cooperation that could help Nigerian manufacturers modernise their operations and expand their market reach.
The Ambassador also visited Hispanitas’ facilities and AVECAL headquarters, where the association’s president expressed willingness to work with the Nigerian Embassy to establish practical arrangements for connecting Spanish businesses with interested Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Ikpeazu said closer cooperation with Spain’s established footwear manufacturing cluster, particularly in the Valencia region, could create significant opportunities for Nigeria’s footwear industry.
He identified technology transfer, specialised training and sustained industry engagement as essential to improving local production capacity, product quality and competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
Spanish industry representatives also expressed readiness to explore practical cooperation through technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The visit forms part of the Nigerian Mission’s broader economic diplomacy efforts to attract foreign investment, promote industrial partnerships and support manufacturing development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reform agenda.
For Nigerian shoemakers, the proposed collaboration could open access to modern manufacturing techniques, specialised skills and international industry networks, potentially improving the quality and competitiveness of locally produced footwear.
