Copyright tribuneonlineng
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded Coleman Technical Industries Limited for its resilience, innovation, and commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth as the company marked its 50th anniversary with the commissioning of Africa’s largest fibre optic cable manufacturing plant in Sagamu, Ogun State. Speaking at the event on Wednesday, President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the new fibre optic facility as a strategic asset for Nigeria’s economic competitiveness that would strengthen the nation’s digital backbone, enhance broadband penetration, and support the country’s transition from potential to performance, and from production to prosperity. “Every kilometre of fibre produced here strengthens the backbone of our digital economy, accelerates broadband performance, enables secure e-commerce, and modernises public services. “Local capacity in fibre optics reduces import dependence, conserves foreign exchange, creates quality jobs, and positions Nigeria as a regional supplier under the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said. The President praised Coleman’s half-century journey as a model of Nigerian enterprise, succession planning, and sustainability, adding that the project aligns with several pillars of his administration’s Eight-Point Agenda, including job creation, digital economy expansion, and local content development. He noted that the factory’s expansion would create thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs, promote backward integration, and drive foreign exchange savings through import substitution and export growth. In his address, Coleman’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr George Onafowokan, described the new facility as the single largest fibre optic cable factory by capacity and Africa’s first Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) production plant. Tracing the company’s evolution from a 200-square-metre site in Idimu to over 400,000 square metres of manufacturing space across Arepo and Sagamu, Onafowokan said the milestone reflects decades of deliberate investment, efficiency, and bold risk-taking. “Coleman has grown beyond being just a cable manufacturer. We now produce low, medium and high voltage cables, fibre optics for broadband and digital infrastructure, aluminium conductors for power transmission, and armoured cables for oil, gas, and industrial applications,” he said. He revealed that Coleman’s Sagamu and Arepo facilities now have a combined fibre production capacity of 12 million kilometres annually, enough to serve the entire sub-Saharan African market. Onafowokan disclosed that the company’s next major investment is a $100 million Fibre Optic Cable Drawing Tower to deepen local content, boost exports, and position Nigeria as Africa’s hub for fibre technology. He also announced plans to designate the Sagamu expanse as a Free Trade Zone, expected to generate over N1 trillion in export revenue and create over 20,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, with at least 30 per cent female participation. “With continued support from government and stakeholders, Coleman is on track to become a N15 trillion ($10 billion) enterprise, with more than half of revenue from exports,” he stated. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, emphasised the critical role of fibre optics in driving national productivity and GDP growth. “Connectivity is now the backbone of every prosperous society. Studies show that for every 10 per cent improvement in broadband quality, GDP grows by about 2.5 per cent. This is why the President has committed to a 90,000-kilometre national fibre network,” Tijani said. He said Coleman’s investment directly supports this national objective and will help deliver affordable, high-quality internet access to millions of Nigerians, particularly the youth. At the commissioning, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, hailed Coleman’s success as “a true Nigerian story of foresight, faith, and innovation.” “Fifty years ago, a vision was born, and today that vision has transformed into one of Nigeria’s foremost manufacturers. Coleman stands as a symbol of entrepreneurial spirit and excellence, qualities that define our state,” Governor Abiodun said. The governor commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms for creating a stable business environment and reaffirmed Ogun State’s commitment to supporting industrial investors. He described the commissioning as a defining moment for Nigeria’s digital revolution and a testament to what is possible when vision meets determination. Coleman Technical Industries Limited, established in 1975 by Dr George Onafowokan, has evolved into Nigeria’s leading cable manufacturer, producing a wide range of electrical, telecommunications, and industrial cables. The newly commissioned Sagamu 5 Fibre Optic Factory marks a major step in Nigeria’s quest for technological self-reliance and digital infrastructure expansion.
