‘Nigeria imports N250bn ceramic products annually’

The Professor of Ceramics Technology, Patrick Oaikhinan, has regretted that Nigeria imports about $600 million (about N252 billion) worth of ceramic products yearly.

He said because Nigeria did not produce up to one per cent of the global market demand for ceramics, the nation would continue to lose out in the profitable trade.

Oaikhinan disclosed that the global ceramics industry is projected to hit $408 billion (about N171 trillion) by 2018. But Nigeria has not been able to cut up of this huge market

Speaking with Business247 News Onlinein Lagos, Oaikhinan, who is the chief executive officer, Epina Technologies Limited, said: “Nigeria occupies the eight positions among the top 18 emerging economies for ceramics trade, but is also the only country in the world without ceramics export. Other developing countries are quickly learning the trade and moving into high-quality product categories.

“Nigeria’s ceramics industry cannot compete with other producers on price. The way out is for us to make ourselves relevant in our local market by focusing on continuous improvement, innovation, and upgrading.”

Stating that many ceramic firms in Nigeria were micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), he urged the government to tap into the sector.

To him, the country has comparative advantages in abundant raw materials and trainable workforce, which are capable of transforming it into a successful ceramics industry.

He, however, regretted the absence of skilled manpower for capacity building in ceramic science, engineering and technology in universities, polytechnics and technical colleges.

He said this had prevented the growth of the industry and forestalled an estimated five million direct and indirect jobs that could have been created from ceramics production.

Oaikhinan said in India, 5.5 million people were employed in the ceramic tiles industry. He said with 72.9 per cent of Nigerians said to be jobless, the industry could open up new windows of opportunities.

He also said apart from generating employment, a thriving ceramic education and manufacturing business could help achieve a competitive, resource-efficient economy by 2020, while also reducing by about 20 per cent the N252 billion paid as customs duty.

Giving insight into the production process for ceramics, he said it required people with a good background in chemistry, mathematics, physics, technical drawing and design.

Stressing the need to drive innovation in ceramics manufacturing and nurture a skilled and knowledgeable workforce, Oaikhinan emphasised that one of the major weaknesses of the industry was its ineffective, low-skilled workforce, which produce low-quality art products.

He said good theoretical and technical education in ceramic science, engineering and technology was not available, and no attention paid to ceramic training.

Besides, Oaikhinan said, facilities and equipment were not available in the Nigerian educational system, even as local manufacturers’ technical capability was not adequate.

He lamented that there was no capacity for growth in the industry as supply-chain management was lacking, with internal efforts focused mostly on importation.

He said this was why most companies imported a certain percentage of their raw materials, including kaolin and ball clay.

Oaikhinan pointed out that the ceramics industry had not yet undertaken joint purchasing of needed local materials, adding that communication among industry operators was fragmented.

“Unless our education sector supports individuals’ efforts the motivation of the next generation of youths to enhance their career and employment opportunities with ceramics will be very difficult,” he warned.

Oaikhinan identified the inclusion of ceramic products on the 41 items on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Foreign Exchange (Forex) restriction list as another factor limiting the growth of the industry.

He advised the apex bank to rethink the forex restriction, saying it was a major disincentive to investors who wished to venture into ceramic production. This, he said, was because most of the materials used in its manufacturing, such as machines, glazes, and stains, were imported.