George Onafowokan urges bold investments in Nigeria’s telecom sector to bridge skill gaps and drive local manufacturing growthGeorge Onafowokan calls for bold investments to bridge Nigeria’s telecom skill gaps and drive indigenous growth.

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The Managing Director and CEO of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited highlighted the critical need for in-country manufacturing to empower Nigeria’s telecom value chain.

Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Skill Gaps in the Telecom Value Chain, Onafowokan challenged stakeholders to embrace courage and defy skepticism.

“Are you brave enough—or crazy enough—to invest?” he asked, emphasising that true Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) requires producing locally rather than importing from abroad.

He praised Coleman’s pioneering efforts, including the launch of Nigeria’s first fibre optic cable factory in 2022, which boasts an annual capacity of 60,000 cable kilometres.

With a second plant in Shagamu set to be commissioned by October 2025, output will soar to over 300,000 cable kilometres annually.

Onafowokan pointed out that despite Coleman’s 100 per cent Nigerian-owned venture with global giant Corning, local buyers often prefer imported products.

“The fibre you buy from us is exactly the same as what you get from Corning or anywhere else—only cheaper here,” he stressed.

Celebrating Coleman’s 50th anniversary, Onafowokan attributed the company’s success to continuous training and capacity building.

Employing about 800 staff with fewer than ten expatriates, Coleman manufactures nearly half of its cable products exclusively in Africa.

“Training, retraining, and developing people has been the backbone of our growth,” he explained. “We’ve deliberately invested in high-technology products, positioning Nigeria as a hub. Our cables touch every sector—telecoms, power, housing, oil and gas—making us a vital part of national development.”

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Onafowokan’s call for bold investment signals a pivotal shift towards self-reliance and industrial growth in Nigeria’s telecom sector.