New Coleman factory in Ogun State marks a milestone for Nigeria’s industrial growth, boosting digital connectivity, jobs, and export capacity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed Coleman Technical Industries Limited for its contribution to Nigeria’s industrial and digital transformation as the company commissioned Africa’s largest fiber optic cable manufacturing plant in Sagamu, Ogun State.
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday October 29, 2025, President Tinubu — represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole — described the project as a major step toward building Nigeria’s digital backbone and enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in the global economy.
“Every kilometer of fiber produced here strengthens the backbone of our digital economy, accelerates broadband performance, and modernizes public services,” Tinubu said. He added that the plant aligns with his administration’s Eight-Point Agenda, promoting job creation, digital expansion, and local content development.
The new factory, built by Coleman Technical Industries to mark its 50th anniversary, is the continent’s largest fiber optic manufacturing facility and Africa’s first Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) production plant. It is expected to create thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs while reducing import dependence and conserving foreign exchange through local production.
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Coleman’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, George Onafowokan, said the plant represents decades of investment, innovation, and growth. The company has evolved from a modest 200-square-metre site in Idimu, Lagos, to over 400,000 square meters of manufacturing space in Arepo and Sagamu.
Onafowokan revealed that the combined capacity of Coleman’s facilities now exceeds 12 million kilometers of fiber annually — enough to serve the entire sub-Saharan African market. He also announced a forthcoming $100 million Fiber Optic Cable Drawing Tower to deepen local content and boost exports.
Plans are underway to designate the Sagamu industrial site as a Free Trade Zone, projected to generate over ₦1 trillion in export revenue and create up to 20,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs, with at least 30% reserved for women.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described fiber connectivity as “the backbone of every prosperous society,” noting that a 10% improvement in broadband quality can raise GDP by about 2.5%. He said Coleman’s expansion supports Nigeria’s goal of achieving a 90,000-kilometre national fiber network.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun praised Coleman’s success as a “true Nigerian story of foresight, faith, and innovation,” commending Tinubu’s economic reforms for fostering a business-friendly environment.
Founded in 1975 by Dr. George Onafowokan, Coleman Technical Industries has grown into Nigeria’s leading cable producer, supplying telecommunications, energy, and industrial sectors. The Sagamu plant, dubbed Sagamu 5, marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s push for technological self-reliance and digital inclusion.
