AFP and TRT Arredo Ltd Discuss Local Furniture Production

During the Design Week Lagos Expo, architect Ina, associated with AFP, a furniture production subsidiary of Julius Berger, stated that while most woodworking and assembly processes occur in Nigeria, some components are still imported. He noted that increasing the availability of locally manufactured components could lessen this reliance.

Oliver Cohnen, General Manager of AFP, stressed the importance of understanding market demand and customer needs before investing in machinery, highlighting that effective production relies on adequate capacity, efficient factory layout, reliable suppliers, and quality control. He emphasized the significance of training workers prior to expanding production.

Jonathan Agwunobi, co-founder of TRT Arredo Ltd, mentioned that standardizing production processes could enhance consistency and efficiency. He shared that his company has established a design department and focused on specific projects, allowing for expertise development and customer feedback integration.

Titi Ogufere, founder of Design Week Lagos, praised AFP for its long-term participation and for incorporating young designers into its production processes.