The inaugural Nigerian edition of the School, Stationery and Office Equipment Expo (SCOFEX Nigeria) successfully concluded in Lagos, with exhibitors and industry stakeholders unanimous on the immense economic potential within Nigeria’s vast market for school stationery and office supplies.
Organised over three days by Tecburg Private Limited of India, in collaboration with Quints Nigeria Ltd, the expo attracted participation from prominent brands across more than 25 countries and exhibitors from 17 nations including Vietnam, China, India, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, USA, Ivory Coast, and the host nation, Nigeria.
The organizers positioned SCOFEX as a global platform designed to catalyze Africa’s productivity economy through innovative product discoveries and fostering new business connections. This Lagos event marked the 10th edition of the global expo series, which has previously been hosted in African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Morocco. These prior editions drew participation from top brands, suppliers, buyers, educational institutions, and industry experts from over 50 countries.
Mrs. Ngozi Adindu, Managing Partner of Quints Nigeria and Project Coordinator for SCOFEX Nigeria, highlighted the expo’s strategic focus on the West African market. “The expo was graced by trade visitors and industry operators from neighboring West African countries,” she noted. Mrs. Adindu elaborated on the diverse product categories showcased: “The scope of the show covered stationery, writing instruments, art and craft materials, notebooks and diaries, books and publishing, toys and hobbies, sports goods, uniforms, bags and backpacks, identity and gifting items, paper products, labels and envelopes, files and folders, adhesives and tapes, IT and computing equipment, office machines, toners and cartridges, furniture, and other allied brands.”
She emphasized the expo’s role in fostering partnerships and innovation:
“The Lagos SCOFEX exhibition provided an opportunity for innovators and startups, including emerging companies and entrepreneurs, to connect with distributors ready to collaborate and drive distribution of their products and services. Participants learned about new market trends, competitors, and potential gaps they can fill with innovative ideas.”
Mrs. Adindu further described SCOFEX as a vital networking forum for equipment manufacturers and exporters from across Africa to engage with international suppliers. She underscored a key objective of the event:
“What we are trying to do with SCOFEX is ensure that all these big brands exhibiting here have Nigerian trade partners and representatives. In fact, one of the major brands has already established a manufacturing plant in Nigeria.”
She expressed confidence in the longer-term impact of such developments:
“I’m sure that when these big brands seize the market opportunities in Nigeria, they will inevitably establish operations here. This will bring transferred technology, knowledge, skills, and market expansion. That is one of the significant business impacts of SCOFEX.”
From the Indian organizing partner, Ashish Jain, Director of Tecburg Pvt Ltd, SCOFEX was seen as a conduit for introducing new technologies and innovations into Nigeria’s education sector. “Our children deserve quality stationery — pencils, pens, and other basic educational tools. What we have here are exactly these essential requirements,” Jain remarked.
Among the foreign exhibitors, Sabrina Yu of Main Paper, Spain, voiced her company’s ambition to forge trade partnerships within Nigeria, highlighting the event’s role in connecting international suppliers with local opportunities.