Epina wants young entrepreneurs to set up small-scale ceramic firms

Epina Technologies Limited says young entrepreneurs should begin to look at ceramics business, stressing that it is a gold mine that needs to be explored.

Patrick Oaikhinan, chief executive officer of the company, said over $400 million worth of ceramics are imported annually into the country, which presents an opportunity for start-ups willing to move into the industry.

“We have all the minerals needed for producing ceramics tiles, sanitary wares, and spark plugs, among others. We can produce them here and even export to earn foreign exchange,” Oaikhinan, who is a professor of ceramics engineering, said.

Oaikhinan, who noted that ceramics is a sector which has been under-exploited in the country, said it has become necessary for his firm to organise trainings in the ceramics industry in order to develop the sector, grow local production and put end to importation of the products into the country.

He said despite its wider application, ceramics seems to get little attention of investors in the country due to lack of requisite skills and government interest, adding that the would-be entrepreneurs need little capital and small space to start production.

He further said there are varieties of things they could produce with ceramics at the back of their houses, including jewelleries and home utensils .

“The use of ceramic materials across a variety of applications has grown exponentially in recent years. The widespread adoption of ceramic materials across a multitude of industries and applications, including transportation, communication, energy and manufacturing requires the supply chain to meet a plethora of end user requirements. In order to meet the growing production capacity required across disparate applications, the industry must drive innovation in manufacturing and nurture a skilled and knowledgeable workforce,” the CEO of Epina said.

“Epina Technologies Limited offers unique practical training in ceramics – a virtual programme bringing together all the resources from industry and education to provide expert advice and training to help our attendees on their way to an exciting career,” he said.

The retired university ceramics engineering lecturer said it always baffles him seeing some of those he lectured about 16 years ago still looking for job.

According to him, with just few days training, the Nigerians establish their own manufacturing business in ceramics and become employers of labour rather than seeking employments, appealing especially to the unemployed youths to embrace local manufacturing, which is what the country requires now.

ODINAKA ANUDU