Nigeria Partners with Italian Organisations to Develop Ceramic Manufacturing
Nigeria: Mudiame University and Mudiame International Group are seeking to develop domestic ceramic engineering expertise through partnerships with Italian technology organisations. Following participation in TECNA 2026, an international ceramic and surface industry exhibition in Rimini, Italy, the university's Chancellor and Mudiame International Group Chairman, Professor Sunny Eromosele, announced plans to establish a pilot ceramic factory within five to six months. The university has secured collaborations with five to seven Italian organisations, including the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics, System Ceramics and Gabbrielli Technology. The partnerships are intended to support technical education, equipment development, workforce training and technology transfer. The university's ceramic engineering programme has received approval from the Nigerian Universities Commission, with practical training and professional courses planned alongside undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Nigeria has deposits of clay, silica and other industrial minerals, but its ceramic market, including tiles, sanitary ware and marble, relies on imports and foreign-owned manufacturers. Annual ceramic imports are estimated at USD 2.5 billion. Eromosele said, “We have the market and the raw materials, but we lack competency in technology, manpower and equipment.” The proposed facility will provide students with practical experience in ceramic production and technology, while the partnerships aim to adapt imported technology to local conditions and develop domestic manufacturing capabilities. The initiative also seeks to support the production of building materials, sanitary products and bricks using laterite, potentially contributing to housing construction and reducing dependence on imported equipment, overseas testing services and foreign technical specialists.
Source: The Guardian
