Ikpeazu seeks technology transfer, partnership with Spanish footwear manufacturers

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has engaged Spanish footwear industry leaders in Alicante Province to explore opportunities for technology transfer, skills development and business collaboration with Nigerian manufacturers.

Ikpeazu, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid, Spain, made the move during a visit to Alicante on Monday, November 2, 2026, where he held strategic discussions with the President of the Valencian Association of Footwear Manufacturers Entrepreneurs (AVECAL), Vicente Pastor Perez, and representatives of INESCOP, Pikolinos and Hispanitas.

At INESCOP, a footwear technology centre in Elda, the Ambassador was taken on a tour of its facilities to examine its technological capabilities, innovation processes and manufacturing standards.

Discussions focused on technical cooperation, training, quality management, certification and technology transfer to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian footwear manufacturers.

The statement said the engagement also explored opportunities to improve the skills of Nigerian technicians and businesses through specialised training programmes, sustainable production methods and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Speaking during meetings with AVECAL and other industry representatives, Ikpeazu highlighted the ingenuity and entrepreneurial capacity of Nigerian footwear producers, noting that many already manufacture different categories of shoes manually despite limited access to advanced technology.

He said the Nigerian Embassy was willing to facilitate business-to-business engagements between Nigerian entrepreneurs and Spanish manufacturers to promote partnerships and investment.

The AVECAL president expressed the association’s readiness to work with the Nigerian Mission to establish modalities for effective engagement between businesses in both countries.

The Ambassador also visited the facilities of Hispanitas and Pikolinos to gain first-hand knowledge of modern footwear production processes and identify areas of mutual cooperation.