President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said the newly inaugurated Coleman Technical Industries Limited’s fibre optic cables factory in Sagamu, Ogun State would boost Nigeria’s digital economy, create jobs, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President who inaugurated the plant on the occasion which also doubled as the company’s 50th anniversary, he described the new plant as a strategic national asset.
The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with a production capacity of over nine million kilometres of fibre optic cables is Africa’s single largest fibre optic cables plant and the first Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) production factory.
“Every kilometre of fibre produced here strengthens the backbone of our digital economy — enabling broadband access, secure e-commerce, and modern public services.
“In a world where data is the new essential infrastructure, local capacity in fibre optics reduces import dependence, conserves foreign exchange, and positions Nigeria as a regional supplier under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said.
READ ALSO: PDP Senator defects to APC, cites ‘Leaking Umbrella’, internal crisis
He commended Coleman’s Managing Director, George Onafowokan, and his team for their resilience and commitment to staying the course and expanding in Nigeria despite challenges.
The event drew top government officials, including Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folasade Bada Ambrose-Medebem; and captains of industries.
Governor Abiodun hailed Coleman’s 50-year journey as a “story of faith, resilience, and innovation,” describing the company as a symbol of Ogun State’s industrial transformation.
He said: “The commissioning of this factory marks a defining moment in our state and in Nigeria’s digital revolution.
“By producing fibre cables locally, we are not only bridging the digital divide but also creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, logistics, and ICT.”
The governor applauded President Tinubu’s support for industrial growth and reaffirmed the state’s role as Nigeria’s leading manufacturing hub.
Dr. Tijani emphasised the critical role of connectivity in driving national growth, revealing that the Federal Government’s plan to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre network nationwide will rely heavily on local manufacturers like Coleman.
“This is the only company in West Africa that manufactures fibre cables. There’s no alternative. We’re working with Coleman and its American partners to train 5, 000 young Nigerians on fibre handling, splicing, and deployment — a key part of our national broadband plan,” Tijani said.
Also speaking, Gov Sanwo-Olu lauded Coleman for its contribution to Nigeria’s industrial and digital growth, describing the expansion as “a resounding declaration that Africa’s digital revolution will be powered by solutions made on African soil.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr. Onafowokan, said the milestone reflects the company’s decades-long commitment to innovation, quality, and national development.
“Today, we gather not just to commission a factory, but to celebrate a milestone in Nigeria’s industrial journey and a remarkable occasion for Africa. Coleman stands as a testament to vision, perseverance, and the enduring Nigerian spirit of possibility,” Onafowokan stated.
He recounted the company’s evolution from a small 200-square-metre factory in Idimu to over 400,000 square metres of industrial space across its Arepo and Sagamu plants. “What began with trading has become a hub of industrial excellence,” he said.
The new Sagamu 5 facility, according to him, has a production capacity of nine million kilometres of fibre optic cables—the largest in Africa—and will serve both domestic and export markets.
The plant also houses Africa’s first FRP manufacturing line and a copper and aluminium smelting facility capable of processing up to 13,000 tons per month.
Onafowokan revealed that Coleman is targeting a N15 trillion (about $10 billion) revenue in the coming years, with over half projected from exports.
He also said the company expects to create more than 20,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, with at least 30 per cent female participation, while generating over N1 trillion in export revenue from its fibre optic operations.
The Coleman boss, however, called for government support on fiscal policies and the approval of Coleman’s application for Free Trade Zone status for its Sagamu industrial expanse, which he said would enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness and boost foreign exchange earnings.
“As we look ahead, we see not just a factory but a future — one where Nigerian manufacturing thrives, our young engineers find purpose, and ‘Made in Nigeria’ becomes a global badge of pride,” he said.