Painting towards excellence: CAP Nigeria pushes for training, industry unity

L–R: Senior Brand Manager, Chemical and Allied Products Plc (CAP PLC), Habib Lawal; Company Secretary/General Counsel, Aramide Nwokediuko, and Capability Development Manager, Charles Michael, at the West Africa Coatings Show, where CAP PLC highlighted its commitment to innovation through eco-friendly paints and high-performance coating systems.

Michael Olumide

In a bid to elevate the standards of Nigeria’s painting and coatings industry, Chemical and Allied Products Plc (CAP PLC) is championing a new wave of skill development and best practices.

At this year’s West Africa Coatings Show (West Africa’s only dedicated coatings trade exhibition) held in Lagos, CAP PLC’s Capability Development Manager, Charles Michael, led a technical workshop titled “Preparation Fundamentals for Excellent Coating Performance.”

He emphasized that, beyond product quality, achieving durable and professional finishes depends significantly on painters’ technical competence, particularly in surface preparation and application techniques.

“The market is evolving, and expectations are higher,” he noted. “For painters to remain competitive and deliver consistent results, there must be an industry-wide commitment to skills development and continuous training. Equally important is fostering transparent communication and trust between applicators and manufacturers, this is not only good practice but essential for ensuring consistent quality and building lasting industry credibility.”

The West Africa Coatings Show was a three-day exhibition and conference uniting over 3,000 manufacturers, applicators, distributors, and technical experts to explore innovations, address skill gaps, and strengthen collaboration across the entire coatings value chain, from raw materials to formulation.

CAP PLC employees at the Dulux booth at the West Africa Coatings show held in Lagos recently.

Echoing this commitment to raising standards, Regional Sales Manager Ijeoma Barnaby‑Nsikak facilitated a panel discussion titled “The Dulux Advantage: Cost, Colour & Commercial Value” With a leading property developer in Lagos. She highlighted that Dulux collaborates with property developers, architects, and project owners to optimize building specifications, pinpointing cost-effective solutions within their product range that align with design goals and durability standards.

This collaborative approach, she said, not only helps to optimize project budgets but also ensures that clients benefit from long-lasting, aesthetically superior finishes. Through this model, Dulux reinforces its position as a trusted partner in delivering high-quality, commercially viable solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial developments.

This focus on capability and top-quality finishes aligns with CAP PLC’s broader investment in workforce development through its Painters Academy, which has trained over three thousand Nigerians in modern application techniques, safety practices, and professional finishing standards.

By bridging informal craftsmanship with formal training, the CAP Painter’s Academy is equipping a new generation of technically proficient painters ready to meet the demands of a modern, performance-driven coatings market.