Digital Transformation Holds Key To Nigeria’s Energy Future – Coleman

The managing director/chief executive officer of Coleman Technical Industries Limited, George Onafowokan, has said digital transformation remains critical to the future of Nigeria’s energy sector, urging stakeholders to embrace technology and strategic partnerships to drive innovation, boost efficiency and strengthen local manufacturing.

Onafowokan stated this while speaking on the theme, “Driving Energy Innovation: Technology-Powered Pathways for Oil and Gas,” during a panel session at the 25th NOG Energy Week Conference and Exhibition.

He said technology has become the defining force shaping the global energy industry, noting that investments in digital transformation across the oil and gas sector are expected to grow significantly between 2025 and 2030.

According to him, the manufacturing sector has evolved from labour-intensive operations to technology-driven production systems, enabling companies to achieve higher productivity, improved quality and greater operational efficiency.

Reflecting on Coleman’s journey, he disclosed that about three decades ago, the company’s factory employed about 120 workers but produced less than one per cent of its current output.

“Today, through automation and technologies such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), we have embedded quality assurance, quality control, health, safety and compliance into our production processes while significantly improving efficiency,” he said.

He explained that modern production systems now allow a single operator to manage equipment that previously required several workers, while advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have shortened product design cycles, enhanced value engineering and improved pricing competitiveness.

Highlighting the impact of digital innovation on local manufacturing, Onafowokan revealed that Coleman recently designed and produced a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) cable for an international oil company within four weeks, cutting the traditional six-month delivery timeline.

“We are now the default producer of VFD cables for that international oil company, supplying its offshore facilities on a monthly basis. This demonstrates the long-term value of investing in technology despite the high initial costs,” he said.

The Coleman boss stressed that collaboration is equally important in unlocking the full benefits of technology, insisting that no organisation or industry can succeed in isolation.

He recalled the company’s partnership with a technology provider that questioned its decision to establish a data centre more than a decade ago, noting that the collaboration has since expanded into artificial intelligence-driven data solutions and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), enabling real-time monitoring of production processes and improved operational performance.

Onafowokan said stronger partnerships among manufacturers, technology firms, international oil companies and indigenous operators would help build a more competitive and resilient energy ecosystem in Nigeria.

He urged businesses to adopt a long-term approach to technology investments, arguing that the benefits outweigh the initial capital costs.

He also advocated increased investment in Manufacturing Execution Systems and collaborative initiatives that would reduce the cost of technology adoption, while encouraging organisations to integrate technology development into their corporate social responsibility programmes to foster innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem.