The demands for tiles are increasing by the day to the extent that it has become an integral part of the real estate sector in the country. The much welcomed part of the development is that the country is no longer 100 percent dependent on its tile consumption on imports and the product is currently manufactured locally.
Equally heartwarming is the fact that the sectorial growth is brought about by the entrepreneurial ingenuity and boldness of some Nigerians who went nto local production of tiles irrespective of the influx of foreign products with their financial muscle and technology advantage.
One of such few Nigerians happens to be Mallinson Afam Ukatu, the first indigenous Nigerian that boldly started wall & floor tiles manufacturing in the country in 2009 when he floated Nispo Porcelain Company Limited. The
company is the first indigenous tiles manufacturing company in Nigeria that prides itself as a state of the art ceramic and porcelain plant established in Ogun State Nigeria for manufacturing, marketing and distribution of ceramic and porcelain tiles of exquisite quality within the local and international markets.
The factory is currently ran with 95 per cent Nigerians, creating over 15,000 jobs for Nigerians. Expectedly, technical assistance came from Chinese experts for about six months at inception and is competing with foreign companies that subsequently flooded the market.
“This my bold move encouraged Chinese and others to venture into manufacturing of tiles in Nigeria mainly around Ogun state free zone and that has created about 15,000 jobs amongst teaming Nigerian youths”, Ukatu said
His strong drive for manufacturing has seen him pioneered businesses in manufacturing of plastics, pharmaceutical products and ceramic wall and floor tiles already mentioned. He started business as an importer of building materials, and has grown to dominate the market as an importer and a manufacturer.
He is currently the Chairman of Mallison and Partners, with a clear record that his entrepreneurial skills has brought him not only riches and wealth, it equally came with its fame and recognition from various quarters. Amongst other recognition in Nigeria as an industrialist are 2019 Silverbird award, 2020 Sun newspaper award and currently the Chairman of the Non-Metallic Mineral Sector of Manufactural Association of Nigeria (MAN), a member of the National Council of both Pharmaceutical and Non-Metallic Sectors of the association and holds membership with several professional bodies. He is a Life member of the Lagos Business School (LBS), South East/South-South League of Professionals, amongst others.
He has successfully supplied tiles in building various projects in the country including Nigerian Police low cost housing Estate, Abuja, Navy housing estate, Karshi Abuja, Navy housing estate Ojo, Lagos and over 460 other building projects.
Ukatu, who is into plastic products, such as chairs, tables, stadium seat with FIFA approval is also into the manufacturing of other household utilities.
Academically, Ukatu is not a slack. He holds a B. A. (Hons) Philosophy from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and has completed several management certificate programs in
Cost Management, Strategic Management, including Entrepreneurial Management from EDS (Lagos Business School). He is a director in several companies and is renowned for his business ingenuity and enthusiasm towards challenges. He also holds a certificate in business from the prestigious Stanford Graduate Business School.
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