Abiodun commissions fibre optic firm in Ogun

Says factory will boost ICT innovation

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, inaugurated the first fibre optic cable manufacturing factory in West Africa and the fifth in Africa, declaring that the factory would be a further boost to his administration’s innovation and development of digital economy infrastructure.

Abiodun, who stated this at the inauguration of Coleman Wire and Cable fibre optic company located on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, expressed his delight that the pioneer factory would equally boost the advancement in teaching and learning processes in academic institutions across the state.

He said that his administration’s commitment towards building a technologically-advanced state had won his administration awards in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy.

He added that the awards were in recognition of the efforts of his administration toward maximising the advantages of ICT and digital economy.

Abiodun further disclosed that the launching of its digital economy project, which aimed at laying five thousand kilometres of fibre optic cables across the state, would receive the needed boost.

Besides, he noted that the commissioning of the factory would go a long way at conserving the already scarce foreign exchange, promoting technology transfer, generating employment and alleviating poverty.

He, therefore, urged other well-meaning individuals and organisations to come and benefit from the immense opportunity the state has.

In her remarks, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, represented by the Commercial Attache, David Russell, said that the impact of the factory would be seen everywhere, adding that more jobs would be created for the people of the state.

Earlier in his remarks, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Coleman Technical Industries Limited (CTIL), George Onafowokan, who disclosed that the company since its inception had a firm belief in local content, said that the vision of the company is based on the premise of believing in Nigeria and growing local capacity.

Minister for Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, represented by Adewale Bakare, commended the dedication of the company to the growth of the economy of the country.