The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, Mr. George Onafowokan, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s plan to deploy fibre optic cables nationwide, describing it as a game-changing development for Nigeria’s technology landscape and a strong endorsement of local industrial capacity.

Reacting to the President’s Democracy Day address on June 12, Onafowokan hailed the initiative as a strategic move that would unlock significant job opportunities, boost digital infrastructure, and accelerate economic growth across Nigeria.

“It’s symbolic for us. The same President who is driving this initiative is also a staunch promoter of local content. That affirms our decision to invest in Nigeria and reinforces our confidence in the country’s industrial future,” he said.

Coleman, which became Nigeria’s sole local manufacturer of fibre optic cables in 2022, is currently expanding its production capacity with a second phase slated for commissioning later this year. Onafowokan noted that the company is well-positioned to meet not only Nigeria’s fibre optic demand but also that of the wider sub-Saharan Africa region.

“We’re not just addressing Nigeria’s fibre infrastructure needs. We’re also strategically placed to support digital connectivity across West, Central, and East Africa,” he stated, emphasizing that the high cost and technical complexities of fibre optic production make local manufacturing capacity critical.

Onafowokan highlighted the broader socio-economic benefits of the President’s initiative, pointing out that the nationwide fibre rollout would create jobs for skilled artisans, increase demand for data centres, strengthen digital infrastructure firms, and stimulate activity across various sectors of the economy.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, the Coleman CEO credited democratic governance since 1999 with enabling industrial growth and strengthening institutional support for manufacturers. He cited agencies such as the Bank of Industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria as playing increasingly impactful roles under a democratic system.

“Democracy has empowered the industry to have a voice. It allows us to engage policymakers, as we did recently on the FRC fees issue, and the government responded promptly. That level of responsiveness wouldn’t be possible under a dictatorship,” he added.

Onafowokan concluded by stressing that with sustained democratic governance, strong policy direction, and strict enforcement of local content laws, Nigeria could emerge as the industrial powerhouse of Africa.