Ceramics production set to boom in Nigeria

Optimism has been raised for boom in
ceramics production as Ceramics
Professionals Association of Nigeria, CPAN,
was incorporated last week. The stakeholders
said the opportunities, which abound in the
sector would now be properly exploited.

Ceramics production in Nigeria has been kept
at the bay due to its unpopularity among
people compared to other sectors. There are
few producers and investors in the aspect of
economy.

With the registration of CPAN by the
Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC,
stakeholders believe that the sector would be
able to compete with other sectors in terms of
local production and contribution to the Gross
Domestic Products, GDP.

Speaking to our correspondent after receiving
the Certificate of Incorporation on Friday, the
Chairman, Board of Trustee and the current
Coordinator of the Association, Professor
Patrick Eguakhide Oakhina, said the
registration of the association is a step
towards moving the sector forward.

"We have got our association registered by
the government, now all the stakeholders,
people who are into Ceramics productions
such as producers, distributors, professionals,
Ceramics artists, Ceramics technologists, and
Ceramics engineers can come together under
this umbrella to promote ceramics
development in Nigeria."

He said the association would serve as a
platform for all stakeholders to meet and
chart ways towards boosting ceramics
production in the country.

Oakhina, who noted that the sector remains
unpopular among Nigerians, said that might
be the reason for the low productivity of the
sector. He added that Ceramics, as a course,
has not been given prominence it requires in
Nigerian Tertiary institutions.

According to him, only one aspect of the
course – Ceramics Arts is being studied in few
higher institutions, while other aspects such
as Ceramics Science, Ceramics Engineering,
and Ceramics Technology are not included in
the curriculum.

Oakhina said 5.5 million jobs could be created
yearly along ceramics value-chain if the
sector is properly harnessed. Currently, as he
noted, the capacity of the sector in term of
job creation is less than 1000 as many
ceramics companies in the country have
become moribund.

He appealed to various state governments to
incorporate ceramics production into their
programmes geared towards empowering the
youths in order to promote the sector.

Oakhina, said the exploration, exploitation
and utilisation of the nonmetallic solid
mineral re¬sources should be encouraged by
government to attract investors to the sector.

"The lack of raw materials ben¬eficiation and
processing primary industries would require
special policy direction and government
support to initiate collaboration between
stakeholders to invest in the raw material
processing indus¬try to serve ceramic and
numerous other industries," he said.
Posted By David Aniemeka