By Chikodi Okereocha,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
Managing Director, Coleman Wires and Cables, Mr. George Onafowokan, has underscored the importance of resilience, innovation, and regional collaboration in driving industrial growth across Africa.
Onafowokan spoke at the recently concluded International Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting (IRM 2025), hosted by Corning Inc. in Gurgaon, India, where he reinforced Coleman’s role as a symbol of African industrial excellence on the global stage.
During a panel session to exchange insights on the topic: ‘MEA Decoded: Winning Lessons from Regional Champions,’ the Coleman boss, representing Africa, shared the Coleman story — how a family-owned business has grown into West Africa’s largest cable manufacturer and West Africa’s pioneer fibre optic cable manufacturer.
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From a trading outfit in 1975, Coleman Wires and Cables has transformed into manufacturing giant that currently supports over 700 direct and 7,000 indirect jobs, with plans to triple the numbers within two years.
The company also boasts manufacturing capacity that includes 390, 000 tonnes of copper, 108,000 tonnes of aluminium, and an expanding fibre optic output projected to reach nine million fibre kilometres annually.
Coleman’s Sagamu and Arepo plants, both in Ogun State, Nigeria, are also among the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the International Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting (IRM 2025), in Gurgaon, India, Onafowokan joined top executives and business leaders from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa for the strategic event which held on 24 September 2025.
