Stakeholders seek domestic investment to curb $2.1 billion ceramic imports

By Yinka Kolawole

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s ceramic sector are urging greater investment, innovation, stronger policy support, and deeper collaboration to transform the industry into a key engine of industrialisation, job creation, and economic diversification.

The appeal was made at the Nigeria Ceramic Investment Summit and Product Exhibition 2026 (NCISPE 2026), which convened industry leaders, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and development partners to examine ways to accelerate growth along the ceramic value chain.

Engr. Eguakhide Patrick Oaikhinan, convener of NCISPE 2026 and a professor of ceramic engineering, said Nigeria has vast untapped potential in ceramics but needs deliberate actions to realise its economic value.

He revealed that Nigeria is expected to import ceramics worth approximately $2.1 billion in 2026, highlighting the urgent need to boost local production capacity and cut reliance on imports.

According to Oaikhinan, strategic investment, supportive government policies, innovation, and sustained collaboration are essential for building a globally competitive ceramic industry that can contribute meaningfully to national development.

He stated: “The opportunities before us are enormous, and the responsibility to seize them belongs to all of us. The transformation of Nigeria’s ceramic industry cannot be achieved by any single stakeholder. It requires the collective efforts of government, industry, academia, financial institutions, development partners, investors, technology providers, entrepreneurs and civil society.”

Oaikhinan expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors would accelerate the industry’s development and position it as a key contributor to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

However, he expressed disappointment at the absence of several key government institutions at the summit, stressing the need for greater engagement among agencies responsible for mineral resource development, industrial policy, research and development, export promotion, and local manufacturing.

He said: “It is important to place on record our disappointment that despite the strategic importance of this sector to Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council were unable to participate in this landmark gathering.”

“Their absence is particularly regrettable given the critical role these institutions play in mineral resource development, industrial policy, export promotion, research and development, value addition and the advancement of local manufacturing.”