Ambassador Ikpeazu engages AVECAL, INESCOP, Pikolinos, Hispanitas on technology transfer, skills development and industrial collaboration

By Chioma Vivian James|November 3, 2026

Nigeria’s drive to strengthen local manufacturing, attract foreign investment and enhance the global competitiveness of indigenous industries has gained fresh momentum following a strategic engagement between Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, and leading Spanish footwear industry stakeholders in Alicante Province.

The high-level engagement explored opportunities for industrial partnerships, technology transfer, capacity building and business-to-business collaboration aimed at modernising Nigeria’s footwear industry and unlocking its economic potential.

The discussions brought Ambassador Ikpeazu together with Vicente Pastor Perez, President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), alongside representatives of INESCOP, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, prominent players in Spain’s footwear manufacturing and technology ecosystem.

The engagement, held during the Ambassador’s visit to Alicante Province on Monday, November 2, 2026, focused on connecting Nigerian footwear manufacturers with Spain’s established industrial expertise, advanced production technologies and international business networks.

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.

Technology Transfer at the Heart of Discussions

A major highlight of the visit was the engagement with INESCOP, a renowned footwear technology and innovation centre located in Elda, Alicante, a region celebrated for its rich shoemaking heritage and industrial expertise.

The Nigerian delegation, received by the Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, toured the facility to gain insights into its technological infrastructure, research capabilities, innovative production processes and adherence to international manufacturing standards.

With more than 400 member companies across different countries, INESCOP plays a significant role in advancing footwear design, materials development, quality assurance and manufacturing innovation.

Discussions centred on technical cooperation, specialised training, certification, quality management and sustainable production methods that could be adapted to the needs of Nigerian footwear manufacturers.

The proposed collaboration is expected to create opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs, technicians and industry-support institutions to acquire relevant skills, access modern technologies and improve production efficiency.

Bridging Nigeria’s Manufacturing Technology Gap

Nigeria’s footwear industry is driven largely by indigenous entrepreneurs whose ingenuity and craftsmanship have sustained local production despite limited access to advanced manufacturing technologies and specialised technical infrastructure.

The proposed partnership with Spanish industry stakeholders presents an opportunity to bridge these gaps by introducing modern production techniques, improving product finishing and strengthening quality standards.

At separate engagements with AVECAL, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ambassador Ikpeazu highlighted the creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian footwear manufacturers, stressing the importance of integrating their existing capabilities with Spain’s expertise in modern footwear design and industrial production.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Embassy’s readiness to facilitate direct engagements between Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish industry players, with a view to fostering practical commercial relationships and mutually beneficial partnerships.

AVECAL Opens Doors to Business Collaboration

Discussions with AVECAL President Vicente Pastor Perez focused on establishing structured partnerships through knowledge exchange, industry best practices and joint programmes to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian footwear enterprises.

A significant outcome was AVECAL’s willingness to collaborate with the Nigerian Embassy in facilitating engagements between Spanish manufacturers and their Nigerian counterparts.

Perez assured the Ambassador that the association would work with the mission to establish appropriate arrangements for promoting business connections and industrial cooperation.

Such collaboration could provide Nigerian manufacturers with access to a broader network of industry professionals, technical institutions and potential business partners, opening new opportunities for skills development, production partnerships and market expansion.

Strengthening Nigeria-Spain Economic Diplomacy

The Ambassador’s engagements with Pikolinos and Hispanitas also provided opportunities to explore production processes, technical expertise and potential areas of cooperation that could support the modernisation of Nigeria’s footwear industry.

His visits to the facilities of Hispanitas and the headquarters of AVECAL formed part of a broader diplomatic initiative to strengthen institutional and commercial ties between Nigeria and Spain.

Ambassador Ikpeazu underscored the importance of sustained dialogue, specialised training and technology transfer in advancing industrial development, particularly through collaboration with Spain’s established footwear manufacturing cluster in the Valencia region.

Spanish industry representatives expressed readiness to explore concrete avenues of cooperation, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives designed to deliver mutual benefits.

These prospective arrangements could expose Nigerian technicians and entrepreneurs to contemporary footwear design, advanced production systems and international operational standards while creating opportunities for Spanish businesses to establish strategic relationships within Nigeria’s growing market.

Beyond Footwear: Opportunities for Economic Diversification

The significance of the engagement extends beyond footwear production to Nigeria’s broader manufacturing and economic diversification agenda.

With appropriate technical partnerships, sustained institutional support and access to modern production technologies, the country’s footwear industry could improve productivity, strengthen quality assurance, create employment opportunities and expand its presence in domestic, African and international markets.

The initiative also aligns with the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly efforts to attract foreign direct investment, promote local manufacturing and establish strategic partnerships that support sustainable economic growth.

For the Nigerian Mission in Spain, the engagement underscores the growing importance of economic diplomacy as a practical instrument for connecting domestic industrial priorities with international expertise and investment opportunities.

The critical next step, however, will be translating the discussions into tangible programmes with clear implementation frameworks for technical exchanges, training, business matchmaking and sustained industrial cooperation.

If effectively implemented, the emerging Nigeria-Spain footwear partnership could transform Nigeria’s indigenous craftsmanship into a more technologically advanced and competitive manufacturing industry, positioning local producers to harness opportunities across Africa and the global marketplace.