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Experts in Nigeria’s ceramic industry have called for increased investment, innovation, policy support and stronger collaboration to unlock the sector’s vast potential and position it as a key driver of industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification.
They made the call at the Nigeria Ceramic Investment Summit and Product Exhibition 2026 held in Lagos, where stakeholders agreed that the industry could play a significant role in Nigeria’s ambition to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The summit brought together industry leaders, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs and development partners to explore opportunities for accelerating growth across the ceramic value chain. Participants also highlighted the role of startups and innovators in driving industrial growth and urged businesses to leverage emerging partnerships and investment opportunities.
Professor of Ceramic Engineering and Convener of the summit, Prof. Patrick Oaikhinan, challenged the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to prioritise the development of the ceramic industry as a strategic sector for Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
Delivering a paper titled “Nigeria’s Ceramic Industry: A Gateway to Growth and Investment,” Oaikhinan described ceramics as an ancient heritage deeply rooted in Nigeria’s culture and economy.
According to him, despite the country’s abundant deposits of clay, feldspar, kaolin, silica and other industrial minerals, Nigeria has yet to fully harness its potential as a major ceramic production hub.
“Ceramic in Nigeria is not a new story- it is an ancient heritage, adding that For centuries, “our communities have shaped clay into objects of daily use and expression. From traditional pottery used for cooking and storage to ceremonial artifacts, ceramics have always been embedded in our way of life. “Over time, this rich heritage evolved through formal education, technical training, and industrial initiatives. Yet despite our abundant natural resources- clay, feldspar, kaolin, silica, and other industrial minerals- still far from attending to its full potential as a major ceramic production hub.”
He noted that the industry is witnessing encouraging growth through the expansion of tile and sanitary ware manufacturing, increasing demand driven by urbanisation and infrastructure development, growing participation of local entrepreneurs and rising investor interest in domestic production.
However, he identified high energy and production costs, dependence on imported technology, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, weak industry-research collaboration and shortages in technical skills as major constraints to the sector’s development.
Oaikhinan stressed that ceramics should be viewed as a strategic industrial sector with enormous economic potential rather than merely a creative field. He called for a comprehensive national ceramics development policy, incentives for local manufacturing and import substitution, improved access to financing, technology acquisition support, innovation promotion and stronger quality assurance systems.
Also speaking, African Regional Manager of System Ceramics, Ali Mohamed Abozekry, said Nigeria possesses the population size and raw material resources needed to become Africa’s leading ceramics manufacturing hub.
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On affordable housing, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Perfection Real Estate Group, Dr. Niyi Adeleye, described ceramics as critical components of the construction industry that influence project value and customer satisfaction.
He noted that the sector supports local content development, import substitution, employment generation and economic diversification.
Adeleye urged government to provide energy support, industrial clusters, improved road infrastructure, incentives and quality standards, while encouraging developers and investors to strengthen partnerships across the ceramic value chain.
“Public procurement can also promote the use of certified locally produced ceramic products in housing and infrastructure projects,” he said.
Speaking on financing opportunities, Divisional Head of SME Banking at Fidelity Bank, Ugochi Osinigwe, said inclusive banking could help unlock growth in the sector.
She explained that ceramic-based small and medium enterprises face both funding and non-funding challenges, including limited access to finance and weak business structures.
Osinigwe advocated policies that would discourage government agencies from importing products that can be manufactured locally, arguing that such measures would boost demand for locally produced ceramics.
She also highlighted the importance of the five key credit requirements for SMEs seeking financing: character, capacity, capital, conditions and collateral.
Stakeholders at the summit unanimously agreed that Nigeria’s ceramic industry possesses enormous potential to contribute significantly to the country’s industrial transformation agenda while creating opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises.
They urged the Federal Government to provide the policy support, infrastructure and incentives needed to unlock the sector’s potential and expressed confidence that, with the right investment and regulatory framework, Nigeria could emerge as Africa’s leading ceramic manufacturing hub.
