Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, Mr. George Onafowokan, has urged stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecom sector to embrace bold, in-country investments to bridge skill gaps and drive indigenous growth.
Speaking as a panelist at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Skill Gaps in the Telecom Value Chain, themed “Bridging the Telecom Value Chain Skill Gaps — Empowering Indigenous Talents for Industry Growth,” Onafowokan emphasised that becoming an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in Nigeria requires not just courage but a willingness to defy skepticism.
“First and foremost, the biggest issue is this: are you brave enough—or crazy enough—to invest?” he said. According to him, “To become an OEM manufacturer here means investing in in-country production, not sitting in India or China and exporting products to Nigeria.”
He cited Coleman’s pioneering efforts in local production, including the establishment of Nigeria’s first fiber optic cable factory in 2022, with a 60,000 cable-kilometer annual capacity. By October 2025, a second plant in Shagamu will be commissioned, boosting total output to over 300,000 cable kilometers annually.
Onafowokan highlighted that Coleman’s venture with global giant Corning is 100 per cent equity-owned and fully Nigerian, yet local buyers still tend to prefer imports.
“The fiber you buy from us is exactly the same as what you get from Corning or anywhere else—only cheaper here,” he noted.
As the company celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Onafowokan stressed that Coleman’s success has been built on continuous training, retraining, and deliberate capacity building. Currently, the company employs around 800 staff, with fewer than 10 expatriates, and nearly 50 per cent of its cable products are not manufactured elsewhere in Africa.
“Training, retraining, and developing people has been the backbone of our growth,” he said, adding, “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.”

• ·To become second Urea producer in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Dangote Group yesterday signed an agreement to develop, construct, and operate a world-class urea fertiliser production complex in Gode, Ethiopia. Once consummated, Ethiopia will become the second in Sub-Saharan Africa to own a Urea Plant, with a capacity of three million metric tonnes.

The agreement underscores the position of the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who firmly believes that “it is only Africans who can develop Africa.”

“Both Tanzania and Mozambique, in the past decade, have not been able to build a Urea Plant, despite having a large deposit of Gas in their respective countries. They have both depended on imports, as no foreign investor was willing to stake their funds into the project.”

On Thursday, Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the strategic investment arm of the Government of Ethiopia, and Dangote Group announced the signing of a comprehensive shareholders’ agreement to develop, construct, and operate a world-class urea fertiliser production complex in Gode, Ethiopia.

Under the partnership structure, EIH will hold a 40 per cent equity stake, while the Dangote Group will maintain a 60 per cent ownership of the transformative project, representing one of the largest industrial investments in Ethiopian history.

The ambitious project will establish one of the world’s largest single-site urea fertiliser production complexes, with production facilities boasting a combined capacity of up to three million metric tonnes per annum. The facility will rank among the top five largest urea production complexes globally.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop, own, construct, operate, maintain, insure, and finance the state-of-the-art urea fertiliser plants and associated infrastructure. The comprehensive development includes advanced gas transport pipelines to evacuate natural gas from Ethiopia’s Hilal and Calub reserves, storage facilities, logistics infrastructure, and export capabilities designed to serve both domestic and regional markets.

The agreement also provides for potential expansions, upgrades, and similar fertiliser production initiatives in ammonia-based fertilisers, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and calcium ammonium nitrate, further cementing Ethiopia’s position as a regional fertiliser production hub.

The Project Development Costs are estimated not to exceed $2.5 billion USD, with completion targeted within 40 months from commencement. A significant component of this investment includes the construction of a dedicated pipeline infrastructure to transport natural gas from Ethiopia’s proven Hilal and Calub gas reserves to the Gode production facility, ensuring a reliable and cost-effective feedstock supply for the fertiliser complex.

This substantial investment underscores both companies’ commitment to transforming Ethiopia’s agricultural sector and enhancing food security across the region. The project is expected to significantly reduce Ethiopia’s dependence on fertiliser imports while creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the Somali Regional State and beyond.

Aliko Dangote commented: “This partnership with the Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent. The strategic location of Gode, combined with Ethiopia’s abundant natural gas resources from the Hilal and Calub reserves, makes this an ideal location for what will become one of the world’s largest fertiliser complexes.

“We are committed to bringing our decades of experience in large-scale industrial projects to ensure this venture becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation and a catalyst for agricultural productivity throughout the region. The 60-40 partnership structure reflects our commitment to this transformative project while ensuring strong Ethiopian participation.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Dr. Brook Taye, stated: “This landmark agreement with Dangote Group marks a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s journey toward industrial self-sufficiency and agricultural modernisation. As the strategic investment arm of the Government of Ethiopia, EIH is proud to secure a 40 per cent stake in what will be one of the world’s largest urea production facilities. The project aligns perfectly with our national development priorities and will substantially enhance our agricultural productivity while positioning Ethiopia as a regional hub for fertiliser production.

“The utilisation of our domestic Hilal and Calub gas reserves through dedicated pipeline infrastructure ensures energy security and cost competitiveness for decades to come. We are confident that this partnership will deliver tremendous value to Ethiopian farmers, contribute to food security, and generate substantial economic benefits for our nation.”

The Gode fertiliser complex will play a crucial role in supporting Ethiopia’s agricultural sector, which employs over 70 per cent of the country’s population.

By ensuring reliable access to high-quality fertilisers at competitive prices, the project is expected to boost crop yields, improve farmer incomes, and contribute to national food security objectives. With its three million metric tonne annual capacity, the facility will rank among the world’s top fertiliser production complexes, while significantly exceeding the capacity of most existing facilities worldwide.

This scale positions Ethiopia as a major player in the global fertiliser market and a key supplier for the African continent. The partnership leverages Dangote Group’s proven track record in large-scale industrial projects across Africa and Ethiopian Investment Holdings’ role as the government’s strategic investment vehicle with deep understanding of the local market and regulatory environment.

The pipeline connection to the Hilal and Calub gas reserves ensures long-term feedstock security and cost competitiveness in global markets. The project also supports broader regional integration objectives by creating a reliable supply of fertilisers for neighboring countries, potentially reducing import costs and improving agricultural productivity across East Africa and beyond.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has hailed the influx of over $6 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Nigeria’s deepwater and gas projects, describing it as a major boost to the country’s energy sector.

Among the key investments are the Ubeta Gas Project, a $550 million investment projected to deliver 350 million scf/day by 2027; the $5 billion Bonga North Deepwater Project which will unlock 300 million barrels of reserves and adding 110,000 barrels/day production capacity and TotalEnergies’ $510 million divestment of a 12.5 per cent stake in OML 118 to Shell.

NEITI’s Executive Secretary/CEO, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to NNPC Ltd’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja. He noted that recent reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration—many spearheaded by NNPC Ltd—had reversed over 15 years of stagnation in oil and gas investments.

He cited landmark transactions such as Oando Plc’s $783 million acquisition of NAOC from Eni (August 2024), Seplat Energy’s $1.2 billion purchase of ExxonMobil’s MPNU (December 2024), and the Renaissance Consortium’s $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company (March 2025). According to him, these deals underscore a shift towards greater indigenous ownership, with Nigerian companies now controlling over 50per ecent of oil and gas production.

“This trend strengthens domestic resource mobilisation, curbs capital flight, creates jobs, and reinforces national pride and sovereignty,” Ogbonnaya Orji said.

He further applauded the Federal Government’s initiatives on the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Programme and the AKK Gas Pipeline Project, describing them as vital to energy security and employment generation.

Ogbonnaya Orji urged NNPC Ltd to sustain transparency, accountability, and efficiency while deepening collaboration with NEITI. He emphasized that Nigeria’s oil and gas gains could only be consolidated in a stable, competitive, and transparent operating environment.

“Together with civil society, industry, and government, we can consolidate indigenous leadership of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector while creating an enabling environment for global investors,” he said.

NEITI also pressed NNPC Ltd to restore critical disclosures—including audited financials, production data, and revenue reports—that have become irregular in recent years. Ogbonnaya Orji stressed that timely publication of such data was essential to Nigeria’s reputation as a global transparency leader, especially ahead of the country’s next EITI Validation.

To strengthen compliance, NEITI recommended the establishment of a dedicated EITI/NEITI Desk within NNPC Ltd, led by a senior officer with direct access to the Group CEO.

“NNPC must stand as a model of corporate governance—competing shoulder-to-shoulder with Saudi Aramco, QatarEnergy, and Petronas,” Ogbonnay Orji said. “Individuals will come and go, but NNPC Limited must endure as a global energy giant.” he added.