Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has initiated engagements with leading Spanish footwear manufacturers and industry associations to promote technology transfer, technical training and investment partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s footwear industry.
The initiative followed Ikpeazu’s visit to Alicante Province, Spain, on Monday, November 2, 2026, where he held discussions with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, alongside representatives of Pikolinos and Hispanitas.
A statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid said the Ambassador was accompanied by the Senior Counsellor, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, and First Secretary, Mr. Likson Dadi.
As part of the visit, Ikpeazu toured INESCOP, a leading footwear technology and innovation centre in Elda, Alicante, renowned for its contributions to modern footwear design, materials development and manufacturing processes.
The Ambassador was received by the Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, who introduced the delegation to the centre’s technological facilities, research capabilities and internationally recognised manufacturing standards.
Discussions at the facility explored opportunities for technical cooperation, specialised training, technology transfer, quality management and certification to improve the production capacity of Nigerian footwear manufacturers.
INESCOP, which works with more than 400 member companies across different countries, was identified as a potential technical partner in helping Nigerian manufacturers adopt modern production methods, improve productivity and embrace sustainable manufacturing practices.
During engagements with AVECAL and representatives of Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ikpeazu highlighted the entrepreneurial abilities and ingenuity of Nigerian shoemakers, noting that many had continued to produce different categories of footwear manually despite limited access to modern technology.
He said the Nigerian Embassy was prepared to facilitate direct engagements between Nigerian footwear entrepreneurs and Spanish manufacturers to establish business partnerships, encourage investment and promote knowledge exchange.
The discussions with AVECAL focused on developing structured partnerships through industry knowledge-sharing platforms, exposure to international best practices and joint programmes to improve the competitiveness of Nigerian footwear enterprises.
At Pikolinos, the delegation explored modern production techniques, manufacturing processes and possible areas of cooperation that could help Nigerian businesses upgrade their operations and access wider markets.
The Ambassador also visited the facilities of Hispanitas and AVECAL headquarters, where the association’s president expressed readiness to work with the Nigerian Embassy to establish effective channels of engagement between Spanish footwear manufacturers and their Nigerian counterparts.
Ikpeazu stressed that collaboration with Spain’s established footwear manufacturing cluster, particularly in the Valencia region and Alicante Province, presented significant opportunities for Nigeria to strengthen its local manufacturing capacity.
He identified technology transfer, specialised training, skills development and sustained industrial dialogue as critical to improving product quality, expanding production and making Nigerian footwear more competitive in domestic and international markets.
The Spanish industry representatives, in turn, expressed willingness to explore concrete cooperation arrangements, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The visit also provided the Nigerian delegation with first-hand exposure to advanced Spanish footwear designs, manufacturing technologies and operational standards, while identifying practical models that could be adapted to Nigeria’s industrial environment.
The engagement forms part of the Nigerian Mission’s broader economic diplomacy strategy to establish international business connections, attract foreign direct investment and promote industrial development.
It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, particularly efforts to attract investment, strengthen local manufacturing and accelerate economic diversification.
