NCISPE 2026 positioned to boost local production, cut import dependence

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Export Business & Training Ltd, Chief (Dr.) John Isemede; National Chairman, Commerce & Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Mr. Hassan Taiwo; Professor, Ceramic Engineering/Lead Consultant, Epina Consultant, Dr. Engr. Eguakhinde Patrick Oaikhinan and National Vice Chairman, CICAN, Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo, at CICAN Secretariat, in Ikeja, Lagos

Stanley Ihedigbo

As part of efforts to accelerate industrialisation and reduce import dependence, Nigeria will host the maiden Nigeria Ceramic Investment Summit and Product Exhibition (NCISPE 2026) to unlock opportunities in the ceramics value chain and strengthen economic productivity.

Indeed, the NCISPE 2026 exhibition, scheduled to hold from June 23 to 25 in Lagos, is a landmark international platform dedicated to unlocking Africa’s fastest-growing ceramic market.

The event offers distributors a unique opportunity to connect with global exhibitors while gaining a definitive competitive edge in 2026 and beyond, as well as direct access to the industry’s most influential manufacturers, experts, and trendsetters.

The summit will convene global ceramic manufacturers, technology providers, investors, policymakers, developers, and supply chain leaders from Africa, China, India, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and beyond to explore Nigeria’s vast opportunities across ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, tableware, technical ceramics, raw materials, and allied manufacturing.

The maiden edition, themed:
“Where investment, industry, policy, and talent converge for measurable returns” is targeted at delivering measurable commercial, institutional, and career returns through structured engagement across Nigeria’s ceramic and construction value chain.

Speaking with some executive members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), at the association’s Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, the convener, Prof. Engr. Eguakhinde Patrick Oaikhinan explained that as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria offers exceptional fundamentals for ceramic manufacturing and trade.

Oaikhinan, said the summit is designed as a deal-making and partnership-driven event, combining high-level policy dialogue with practical investment engagement.

He lamented that although the country has technical knowledge and the market, many manufacturers are struggling with high energy costs, limited access to finance, aggressive competition from imported products, and poorly connected supply chains.

The Summit Director, who has spent years working in manufacturing and studying how Nigeria can move from being a consuming nation to a producing nation, noted that the essence of the summit is to deliver measurable commercial, institutional, and career returns through structured engagement across Nigeria’s ceramic and construction value chain.

“Ceramics sit at the intersection of housing, infrastructure, manufacturing, and industrial energy demand. They affect construction costs, local manufacturing capacity, jobs, and foreign exchange usage.

“By strengthening the ceramic value chain, you directly impact housing affordability, industrialisation, and employment.”

He said NCISPE is a business outcomes platform, not a ceremonial conference.
“At a time when Nigeria must build faster, produce locally, and attract investment, platforms like NCISPE are essential.

“We cannot afford conversations without conversion. This summit is about execution — bringing the right people into one room to unlock real economic value. Execution delivers scalable industries, sustainable employment, and export growth.”

The professor said that as Nigeria looks ahead to NCISPE 2026, it is important to be clear about what this renewed hope platform represents.

“NCISPE is not an industry gathering in the traditional sense. It is a deal-flow and cost-reduction platform deliberately designed to convert conversations into contracts, relationships into supply agreements, and policy alignment into bankable projects.”

Key features of the summit include global investment and policy dialogues; technology and machinery showcases; product exhibitions and live demonstrations; raw materials and beneficiation sessions; SME and local manufacturer integration; and B2B, B2G, and investor matchmaking forums.

Oaikhinan said the summit will align with Nigeria’s renewed hope for a national industrialisation agenda, export diversification drive, and regional trade ambitions, positioning the country as a competitive manufacturing and export hub for ceramics in Africa.

The summit will attract individuals from diverse backgrounds, industries, and specialties, all coming together with a shared passion for ceramic products. The summit director is optimistic that the exhibition hall will be alive with opportunities, where every conversation has the potential to spark new ideas, collaborations, and partnerships.

“At NCISPE 2026, connections are more than chance encounters — they are the building blocks of future growth,” the exhibition convener disclosed.
Expected participants include international and indigenous ceramic manufacturers; machinery, kiln, and technology suppliers; raw material processors and miners; architects, real estate developers, and infrastructure firms; exporters, distributors, and trade financiers; government ministries, agencies, and regulators; development finance institutions and private equity investors; and universities and research institutions.

Speaking further, he pointed out that the summit is a unique opportunity to enter, expand, or deepen engagement in one of the world’s most promising emerging ceramic markets.

“Bring clients along for personalised tours of the latest ceramic products to touch, feel, and compare the newest and most luxurious trends on display by global exhibitors.

“Source breathtaking products for your next project to deliver quality, durability, luxury, sustainability, and visual appeal to meet customers’ demands.

“Discover one-of-a-kind pieces from around the globe. Nigeria is ready. Africa is rising. The ceramic opportunity is now.”
Registration for NCISPE is open, offering a chance to join industry professionals from around the globe to explore cutting-edge ceramic products, gain valuable insights, and build lasting connections.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), Mr. Hassan Taiwo, commended the summit convener for initiating a platform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ceramic industry and industrial value chain.

He assured the convener of the association’s support in promoting the summit and amplifying discussions around industrial growth, local manufacturing, and investment opportunities within the ceramics sector.

Taiwo noted that CICAN serves as the voice of the real sector and the Organised Private Sector in Nigeria and across Africa, providing media visibility for policies, investments, and initiatives that drive economic development.

He emphasised the importance of strategic platforms such as the Nigeria Ceramic Investment Summit and Product Exhibition (NCISPE 2026) in promoting industrialisation, encouraging local production, and attracting both local and foreign investments into key sectors of the economy.