Global stationery brands target Nigeria’s education market as SCOFEX makes debut

L-R: Ngozi Adindu, managing director, Quints Marketing Solution Limited; Ashish Jain, director, Tecburg Private Limited; Chinedu Oguezuonu, president Amalgamated Stationery and Computers Association of Nigeria; Ajay Sethi, CEO, Pentel Stationery (India)PVT Limited, during the opening ceremony of a 3-day Stationery School & Office Supplies Expo, the first Nigeria edition, organised by Tecburg Private Limited held at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a move aimed at enhancing the quality of educational materials available to Nigerian students, the international School and Office Expo (SCOFEX) made its debut in Nigeria, drawing global attention to the country’s untapped potential in the school and office supplies market.

Held at the Landmark Centre in Lagos from May 29 to 31, the exhibition brought together major stationery manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, including India, China, Turkey, and the UAE.

Organised by Tecburg Private Limited, SCOFEX has previously hosted successful editions in Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Morocco. According to Ashish Jain, marketing director at Tecburg, Nigeria has long been identified as a strategic market due to its large population and growing demand for quality, affordable stationery.

“What we’ve realised over the years is that there’s a huge demand for quality stationery products across Africa, especially in unorganised markets like Nigeria where there’s still room for better structure in importation and distribution,” Jain said during a press briefing.

He stressed that beyond showcasing products, the event aims to bridge critical gaps in Nigeria’s educational infrastructure by making basic but essential tools, such as quality pencils, notebooks, erasers, and art supplies, more accessible.

“Education is the foundation of national development, and even simple materials like well-made pencils and notebooks significantly affect learning outcomes,” Jain added.

SCOFEX—short for School and Office Exhibition—featured exhibitors from 16 countries and brands from over 25 nations. Major global names present at the event included Nataraj, Beifa, Vista, Flexoffice, MainPaper (MP), Doms, and others.

While the event highlighted the importance of quality learning materials, it also offered a major business advantage to local traders and distributors. Instead of travelling abroad to source school supplies from countries like China, Vietnam, or India, Nigerian business owners had the chance to connect directly with manufacturers on home soil.

“In the past, Nigerian traders had to travel overseas to import basic school materials. SCOFEX brings these producers right here, opening the door to better trade opportunities and possibly boosting local manufacturing in the long term,” said Ngozi Adindu, project coordinator for the event.

The organisers expressed hope that Nigeria will become a recurring host for the exhibition, as has been the case in Kenya, where SCOFEX has held three editions.

“We believe Nigerian children deserve the same quality tools that students in other parts of the world enjoy. And we’re here to help make that happen,” Jain concluded.

Among the international participants was Dinesh Chawla, regional manager for Hindustan Pencils Private Limited, makers of the well-known Nataraj brand.

“Nataraj is a very famous brand in India. We have been manufacturing since 1958 and are now selling our products globally,” Chawla told journalists. “We produce all kinds of writing instruments, from those used by school children to those suitable for adults and corporates.”

“From this exhibition, we expect to gain exposure to the Nigerian market,” he added. “We hope that people who attend the expo will visit our booth, try out our products, and ultimately come to love and accept them.”

Also present was Anil Singh, international business development manager at Doms Industries Limited, who described Nigeria as a promising market for the brand’s expansion efforts.

“Nigeria is a big market for us,” Singh said. “We are here to start new cooperation possibilities, not just in Nigeria, but also in neighbouring countries. Our goal is to establish strong business relationships in this part of the world.”

“We believe our products will fit well in the Nigerian market,” he added. “We are excited to be here and are optimistic that by the end of the exhibition, we will have formed valuable new contacts and opened doors to new operational opportunities.”

As Nigeria’s government continues to invest in improving its education system, events like SCOFEX could play a crucial role in ensuring that both students and educators have access to durable, affordable, and high-quality learning materials.

Taofeek Oyedokun

Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work.