Reviving Nigeria’s Ceramic Industry: Challenges and Solutions in Nigeria
Nigeria’s ceramic industry was flourishing, riding high on a wave of abundant raw materials, a skilled workforce, and robust technology.
This golden era of ceramics thrived during the 1970s and 1980s, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s construction industry, export revenues, and employment.
However, fast forward to today, and the picture is vastly different. The once-vibrant ceramic industry is a shadow of its former self.
What was once a thriving sector now boasts just ten operational ceramic companies in the entire country. The reasons behind this decline are multifaceted.
One of the critical challenges is the lack of a skilled workforce with the necessary expertise and technical skills to drive the ceramic industry forward.
In addition, the haphazard extraction of raw materials and trade barriers have added to the industry’s woes. The remaining ceramic companies are no longer performing at their best, and this is hampering their ability to play a significant role in Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
The Nigerian ceramic industry’s situation is quite unique. While Nigeria ranks eighth among the top 18 emerging economies for ceramics trade, it stands alone in the world as the only country without substantial ceramics exports, despite its vast solid mineral resources. This situation is both perplexing and alarming, given the country’s abundant resources.
Currently, the industry primarily focuses on ceramic wall and floor tiles, with minimal effort invested in diversifying into a broader range of products like tableware, sanitary ware, china ware, porcelain, electrical porcelain insulators, refractories, and structural clay bricks, among others.
The world is moving towards “intelligent ceramics,” where ceramics find applications in various sectors such as housing, healthcare, and the automobile industry.
Intelligent ceramics boast significant potential for solutions that are resource-efficient and environmentally friendly. These advanced products can detect human presence, activate traffic signals, and hold the key to next-generation energy storage, facilitating the use of renewable technologies.
The future of the ceramic industry in Nigeria could be the silver lining the country needs, especially in the wake of the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Revitalising this sector could create employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians and boost the nation’s economy.
To make this vision a reality, several critical steps must be taken. The government should invest in solving the technical and economic constraints that currently hinder the ceramic industry.
This includes addressing the lack of technical skills and workforce, as well as developing technology for sustainable and inclusive ceramic growth.
Furthermore, it’s crucial for Nigeria to establish a ceramic skills acquisition centre or academy to nurture the next generation of ceramic entrepreneurs.
This step will bridge the gap between industry and education and ensure a skilled workforce for the future.
The government should also collaborate with international partners such as JICA-Japan, GTZ-Germany, USAID-United States, and others to re-engineer and reposition the industry for success.
Additionally, Nigeria needs to address issues related to international market access and trade barriers, taking action against unfair trade practises like counterfeiting, infringement of intellectual property rights, and dumping.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s ceramic industry holds immense potential, especially when it comes to utilizing local raw materials for production. By breathing new life into the moribund ceramic companies, Nigeria can look forward to economic growth, job creation, and a more prominent position on the global ceramics stage.
With the right investments, a skilled workforce, modern technology, and abundant raw materials, the revitalization of the ceramic industry could see Nigeria compete on par with industry giants like China and India.
Source: NAN
