Ikpeazu Woos Spanish Footwear Industry Leaders for Investment, Technology Transfer

Ikpeazu Woos Spanish Footwear Industry Leaders for Investment, Technology Transfer

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

Spain (Core Reporters) – Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Spain, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has engaged key players in Spain’s footwear industry in a strategic move to promote partnerships, technology transfer and skills development in Nigeria’s footwear manufacturing sector.

Ikpeazu held discussions with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, as well as representatives of INESCOP, Pikolinos and Hispanitas during a visit to Alicante Province, Spain, on Monday, November 2, 2026.

According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid, the Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Senior Counsellor, and Mr. Likson Dadi, First Secretary.

At INESCOP, a footwear technology centre and innovation hub located in Elda, Alicante, the Ambassador was received by the Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, who conducted him around the facility.

INESCOP, which works with more than 400 member companies across different countries, is renowned for advancing footwear design, materials, technology and manufacturing processes.

The tour provided the Nigerian delegation with first-hand exposure to the centre’s technological capabilities, innovation facilities and international manufacturing standards.

Discussions with INESCOP focused on technical cooperation, innovation, quality assurance and capacity-building programmes that could be adapted to strengthen Nigeria’s footwear industry.

Both sides explored opportunities to improve the technical skills of Nigerian manufacturers, technicians and industry support organisations through specialised training, technology transfer, quality management, certification and innovation, with particular emphasis on sustainability and increased productivity.

During engagements with the leadership of AVECAL and representatives of Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ikpeazu highlighted the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian footwear manufacturers, many of whom produce different categories of footwear manually despite limited access to modern technology.

He stressed the willingness of the Nigerian Embassy to facilitate direct engagements between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish industry players to promote partnerships, business-to-business interactions and knowledge exchange.

Discussions with AVECAL centred on structured partnerships, knowledge-sharing platforms, industry best practices and possible joint programmes to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of Nigerian footwear enterprises.

At the meeting with Pikolinos representatives, the parties examined production processes, practical industry experience and possible areas of collaboration that could help Nigerian manufacturers modernise their operations, improve product quality and expand their market reach.

The Ambassador also visited the facilities of Hispanitas and the headquarters of AVECAL as part of efforts to deepen institutional and business relations between Nigerian and Spanish footwear manufacturers.

The President of AVECAL expressed the association’s willingness to work with the Nigerian Embassy to establish the necessary framework for effective engagement between Spanish footwear businesses and their Nigerian counterparts.

The engagements form part of a broader initiative by the Nigerian Mission in Spain to connect local footwear manufacturers with established international industry players, facilitate the exchange of expertise and promote practical cooperation in training, skills development and technology transfer.

The visit also offered the Nigerian delegation an opportunity to examine contemporary Spanish footwear designs, manufacturing techniques and operational standards, while identifying technologies and training models that could be adapted to Nigeria’s footwear industry.

Ikpeazu noted that closer collaboration with Spain’s well-established footwear cluster in the Valencia region, particularly in Alicante, presents significant opportunities for Nigerian manufacturers.

He emphasised that technology transfer, specialised training and sustained industry dialogue are critical to upgrading local production capacity, improving product quality and making Nigerian footwear more competitive in domestic and international markets.

The Spanish industry representatives, on their part, expressed readiness to explore practical frameworks for cooperation, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives that would deliver mutual benefits.

The visit underscores the Nigerian Mission’s commitment to advancing economic diplomacy and facilitating productive international partnerships in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly efforts to attract foreign direct investment, strengthen local manufacturing and accelerate national economic development.