Nigeria is exploring strategic partnerships with Spain’s footwear industry to modernise local shoe manufacturing, facilitate technology transfer and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in domestic and international markets.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Dr Victor Ikpeazu, disclosed this during a visit to Alicante Province on Monday, November 2, where he engaged Spanish footwear manufacturers and industry stakeholders on technology transfer, technical training, innovation and investment opportunities.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, Ikpeazu met with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, as well as representatives of footwear technology centre INESCOP and manufacturers Pikolinos and Hispanitas.
The visit was aimed at connecting Nigerian footwear manufacturers with Spain’s established industrial ecosystem to promote skills development, industrial cooperation and investment.
At INESCOP, a footwear technology and innovation centre in Elda, Alicante, the ambassador was received by its Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, who conducted him round the facility to showcase its technological capabilities, research activities and manufacturing standards.
INESCOP supports more than 400 member companies across different countries, providing expertise in footwear design, materials and manufacturing processes.
Discussions centred on adapting the centre’s technical expertise to Nigeria’s footwear industry through specialised training, technology transfer, quality management, certification and innovation.
The parties also considered capacity-building programmes for Nigerian technicians, manufacturers and industry-support organisations, with emphasis on sustainability, productivity and compliance with international quality standards.
Ikpeazu said Nigerian footwear manufacturers possessed considerable entrepreneurial capacity and ingenuity but faced challenges arising from limited access to modern technology and advanced manufacturing equipment.
He noted that many local manufacturers continued to produce different categories of footwear manually despite their capabilities and market potential.
The ambassador said the Nigerian Embassy was ready to facilitate direct engagements between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish counterparts to promote business-to-business partnerships.
During meetings with AVECAL, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, he explored opportunities for structured collaboration, including technical exchanges, joint programmes, knowledge-sharing platforms and exposure to modern production processes.
The visit to Pikolinos provided an opportunity to examine industrial footwear production, while discussions with Hispanitas focused on strengthening commercial and technical relationships between manufacturers in both countries.
AVECAL President, Pastor Perez, assured the ambassador of the association’s willingness to collaborate with the Nigerian Embassy in establishing sustainable engagement between Spanish footwear businesses and Nigerian entrepreneurs.
The association also expressed readiness to explore practical cooperation in industry expertise, training and business partnerships.
Ikpeazu said closer engagement with Spain’s footwear manufacturing cluster, particularly in Valencia and Alicante, could help Nigerian manufacturers upgrade production capabilities, improve product quality and expand access to international markets.
He identified technology transfer, specialised training and sustained industry dialogue as critical to developing a competitive footwear manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
Spanish industry representatives also expressed willingness to explore concrete cooperation arrangements, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The ambassador was accompanied by the Senior Counsellor, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, and First Secretary, Mr Likson Dadi.
The engagement forms part of the Nigerian Mission’s broader economic diplomacy initiative to attract foreign direct investment, promote industrial partnerships and support the Federal Government’s manufacturing and economic development objectives under President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
