The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) hosted a landmark online webinar on Monday, 11 May 2026, themed “Reinforcing and Deepening the Knowledge of 3D/Additive Manufacturing in Nigeria: Academia and Industry Perspectives.”
The session brought together academics, industry experts, researchers, and manufacturing stakeholders from across Nigeria to explore the transformative potential of additive manufacturing and its implications for the country’s industrial future.
Among the distinguished guest speakers was Prof. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, Ph.D, Founder and CEO of the African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII), LLC, whose presentation titled “Additive Manufacturing: Powering Nigeria and Africa’s Industrial Future — Electronics, Biomedical and Beyond” offered a compelling global perspective on additive manufacturing with a focus on electronics and biomedical applications.
Opening Address by the Director General of MAN
The webinar was formally opened by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), who emphasized the importance of innovation, smart manufacturing, and industrial transformation within Nigeria’s manufacturing ecosystem.
He reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to driving the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies across the country.
Foundational Overview of Additive Manufacturing
The first guest speaker, Prof. Lawrence Opeyemi Osoba, Professor of Welding Metallurgy and Materials Science and Coordinator of the Additive Manufacturing Group (AMG) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), delivered a foundational overview of additive manufacturing in Nigeria.
His presentation highlighted the relevance, evolution, and growing industrial applications of additive manufacturing, laying a strong academic foundation for the discussions that followed.
Prof. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua’s Presentation
Prof. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua delivered one of the most insightful and data-driven presentations of the session, drawing from global market intelligence, real-world use cases, and laboratory experience to highlight Africa’s opportunities within the additive manufacturing ecosystem.
Africa’s Additive Manufacturing Growth Potential
Prof. Ekeng-Itua noted that Africa’s additive manufacturing market is projected to grow significantly by 2030, driven by advancements in electronics, medtech, and broader industrial adoption.
She emphasized that Africa’s growth trajectory presents a major opportunity for Nigeria to position itself as a leader in the sector, especially given the country’s manufacturing potential and growing industrial base.
She identified South Africa and Kenya as some of the continent’s current leaders while urging Nigeria to deepen its participation in the ecosystem.
Beyond the 3D Printer — Building the Ecosystem
A major focus of the presentation was the need to view additive manufacturing as a complete ecosystem rather than simply a 3D printer.
Prof. Ekeng-Itua highlighted four critical areas of opportunity:
She stressed that strengthening these areas would be critical to building a sustainable additive manufacturing industry in Nigeria.
Additive Manufacturing for Electronics
One of the most forward-looking aspects of the presentation focused on Additive Manufacturing for Electronics (AME), which Prof. Ekeng-Itua described as one of Africa’s greatest industrial leapfrogging opportunities.
With increasing global demand for electronic components driven by artificial intelligence, smart devices, data centers, and Industry 4.0 systems, she argued that Africa can no longer afford to remain only a consumer of electronics.
She highlighted several high-impact applications including:
Prof. Ekeng-Itua also noted that an Additive Manufacturing for Electronics Conference is scheduled to take place in Belgium in October, creating opportunities for Nigerian stakeholders to engage with global developments in the field.