The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Spain, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, paid a visit to the Province of Alicante, Spain, on Monday, 2 November 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.
‎‎According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Nigeria in Madrid, Spain, the Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Senior Counsellor and Mr. Likson Dadi, First Secretary.
‎‎At the INESCOP (Footwear Technology Centre), which serves as a core innovation and technology hub for the footwear industry in Elda (Alicante), a region historically renowned for shoemaking, and works with over 400 member companies across different countries to advance footwear design, materials and manufacturing processes, the Ambassador was received by the Director of Technologies and Materials, Elena Orgilés Calpena, and was conducted around the facility to showcase its advanced technology, innovation capabilities and compliance with international best practices.
‎‎The discussions with INESCOP were focused on technical cooperation, innovation, quality standards and capacity-building programmes that could be adapted for Nigerian manufacturers.
‎‎The meeting explored avenues to strengthen the skills of technicians, companies and support organisations in the Nigerian footwear sector through training, technology transfer, quality management, certification and innovation, with a focus on sustainability and improved productivity.
‎‎During the meeting with the President of AVECAL, Pikolinos and Hispanitas, Ambassador Ikpeazu underscored the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, which has translated into producing different categories of footwear manually with limited technological expertise.
‎‎He also asserted that the Embassy is willing to facilitate a meeting between interested Nigerian entrepreneurs and their Spanish counterparts to foster collaborations and business-to-business matchmaking.
‎‎Discussions with the President of AVECAL were primarily focused on opportunities for structured partnerships, including knowledge-sharing platforms, industry best practices and potential joint programmes that could support the growth and competitiveness of Nigerian footwear enterprises.
‎‎Engagements with the Pikolinos representatives also explored practical industry insights, production processes and possible avenues for collaboration that would benefit Nigerian producers seeking to modernise operations and expand market reach.
‎‎The Ambassador also visited Hispanitas’ facilities and the headquarters of AVECAL as part of efforts to strengthen ties between Nigerian and Spanish footwear manufacturers.
‎‎The President of AVECAL assured the Ambassador that the association is willing to partner with the Embassy to ensure that the necessary modalities are put in place to facilitate easy engagement between Spanish businessmen and their Nigerian counterparts.
‎‎The engagements formed part of a broader initiative aimed at linking Nigerian shoe manufacturers with their Spanish counterparts.
‎‎The primary objective of the visit was to facilitate the exchange of ideas, promote practical collaboration and advance cooperation in the areas of training, skills development and technology transfer within the footwear sector.
‎‎The visit provided the Ambassador and accompanying officials with first-hand exposure to contemporary Spanish footwear design, manufacturing techniques and operational standards. It facilitated direct industry exposure in identifying transferable technologies and training models relevant to Nigeria’s footwear sector.
‎‎Ambassador Ikpeazu emphasised that closer collaboration with Spain’s well-established footwear cluster in the Valencia region—particularly in Alicante—offers significant potential for Nigerian manufacturers.
‎‎He highlighted the importance of technology transfer, specialised training and sustained dialogue as key drivers for upgrading local production capacity, improving product quality and enhancing competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
‎‎The Spanish industry representatives expressed readiness to explore concrete modalities of cooperation, including technical exchanges, training attachments and knowledge-sharing initiatives that would mutually benefit both sides.
‎‎The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Mission to promote economic diplomacy and facilitate beneficial linkages in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms to attract foreign direct investment to promote economic development especially in the manufacturing sector.