Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has held discussions with leading Spanish footwear industry stakeholders in Alicante Province aimed at fostering collaboration, technology transfer and skills development for Nigeria’s footwear sector.
The engagement, which formed part of the Nigerian Mission’s economic diplomacy efforts, saw the ambassador meet with the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), the Footwear Technology Centre (INESCOP), and major footwear companies including Pikolinos and Hispanitas.
According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Madrid, Ambassador Ikpeazu was accompanied by Senior Counsellor Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa and First Secretary Likson Dadi during the visit.
At INESCOP, a footwear technology and innovation centre based in Elda, Alicante, the ambassador was received by Elena Orgilés Calpena, Director of Technologies and Materials. Discussions focused on technical cooperation, innovation, quality standards, certification and capacity-building programmes that could be adapted to support Nigerian footwear manufacturers.
Both sides explored opportunities to strengthen the capabilities of Nigerian technicians, companies and support organisations through training initiatives, technology transfer and quality management programmes, with emphasis on sustainability and improved productivity.
During separate meetings with AVECAL President Vicente Pastor Perez and representatives of Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ambassador Ikpeazu highlighted the entrepreneurial capacity of Nigerian shoe manufacturers, many of whom produce a wide range of footwear despite limited access to modern technology.
He said the Nigerian Embassy was prepared to facilitate connections between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish companies to encourage business-to-business partnerships and investment opportunities.
Discussions with AVECAL centred on structured partnerships, knowledge sharing and industry best practices that could enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s footwear industry.
Talks with Pikolinos also examined production processes and potential areas of collaboration to support the modernisation of Nigerian footwear manufacturing.
The ambassador also toured the facilities of Hispanitas and AVECAL as part of efforts to deepen cooperation between footwear manufacturers in both countries.
AVECAL’s leadership expressed readiness to work with the Nigerian Embassy to establish mechanisms that would facilitate engagement between Spanish and Nigerian businesses.
Ambassador Ikpeazu said closer collaboration with Spain’s well-established footwear cluster in the Valencia region, particularly Alicante, could help Nigeria improve local production capacity, product quality and competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
Spanish industry representatives also indicated their willingness to explore practical areas of cooperation, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Mission in Spain to strengthen economic ties and attract investment in support of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and broader economic reform agenda.
