In a significant move for Nigeria's retail and educational landscape, Auldon Toys has officially opened a massive N8 billion children's experience centre in Lagos. This landmark development signals a strategic pivot for the company, shifting from its longstanding wholesale distribution model to a direct retail approach that engages young consumers and their families.
A New Hub for Play and Learning
The newly unveiled facility is far more than a simple toy store. It is designed as a comprehensive destination, featuring a large toy supermarket, a family-friendly café, and dedicated classroom spaces. Beyond the opportunity to purchase toys, the centre offers a rich schedule of workshops and classes aimed at stimulating young minds.
These activities include doll clothes sewing, basic toy assembly, robotics, physics-based games, and creative engineering. During a tour of the facility, the Chief Executive Officer of Auldon Toys, Mr. Paul Orajiaka, explained that this centre represents the company's evolution into a retail-focused enterprise that provides immersive learning and play experiences.
The primary goal is to create a vibrant space where Nigerian children can not only buy toys but also make independent choices and participate in hands-on activities that actively promote learning and skill development.
Expansion Plans and Educational Integration
Orajiaka also highlighted ambitious plans for the future, noting significant opportunities to expand this concept to other major cities across Nigeria and into neighbouring sub-regions. This expansion would ensure wider access to quality toys that support crucial child development.
Integrating the centre into Nigeria's educational ecosystem is a key part of the strategy. Auldon Toys is developing specialized summer programmes that will allow schools to bring pupils for practical sessions. These sessions will cover areas like toy assembly, robotics, basic engineering, and doll fashion design, all with the objective of stimulating curiosity and building foundational skills in science, technology, and creativity.
Challenges and a Call for Government Support
Reflecting on the journey, Orajiaka did not shy away from discussing the significant challenges facing private investors in Nigeria. He pointed to high infrastructure costs and the unstable electricity supply as major hurdles.
He urged the government to provide more robust support for private-sector ventures by improving access to reliable electricity, easing regulatory hurdles, and, most critically, providing affordable financing for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs). He stressed the urgent need for lower-cost loans and better credit structures to enable emerging businesses to grow more quickly, noting that access to cheaper funding earlier would have accelerated Auldon Toys' own growth over its 27-year history.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Mr. Ladi Balogun, Chief Executive Officer of FCMB Group, who praised Auldon Toys for its bold investment in Nigeria's creative manufacturing sector. Balogun expressed pride in supporting a homegrown brand that demonstrates resilience, innovation, and a strong commitment to local value creation.
He reaffirmed FCMB's commitment to supporting SMEs in sectors like creative manufacturing, retail, and light industry, highlighting the need for consistent access to financing, advisory services, and strategic partnerships to unlock the full potential of Nigerian entrepreneurs. The bank pledged to continue backing initiatives that empower children, create jobs, and support the nation's economic growth.
