Ezeobi Named Sun Industrialist Of The Year

Africa’s youngest cable manufacturer, Mr. John Ezeobi, has been nominated as the winner of The Sun Industrialist of the Year Award 2025, marking a major milestone in his rise as one of Nigeria’s most promising industrial leaders.

A high-powered delegation from The Sun newspaper, led by its Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, visited the headquarters of the John Zobis Group during the week to formally present the notification and nomination letter.

Ukeh said Ezeobi was selected after “weeks of rigorous deliberation by the Board of Editors,” noting that his story embodies resilience, innovation, and measurable impact on national development.

According to him, “Mr. Ezeobi’s transformation from a young trader into Africa’s youngest electrical cable manufacturer is extraordinary. His products have earned a reputation for reliability across residential, industrial, and commercial sectors.”

Responding, Ezeobi described the recognition as a collective achievement shared with his workers, customers, and host communities.

He said the nomination “is both humbling and motivating,” adding that it reinforces his belief that excellence, consistency, and integrity remain central to sustainable growth in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.

At 41, Ezeobi becomes the youngest person ever to clinch the Industrialist of the Year honour, a category previously dominated by established industrial giants such as Obi Ezeude of Beloxxi Biscuits, Chief Chika Emenike of Kotec Group, and Tony Ezenna of Orange Drugs.

The nomination letter also highlighted the rapid expansion of the John Zobis Group, comprising Zobis Electrical Nigeria Ltd., John Zobis Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd., JZ Bulbs Company Nigeria Ltd., Zobis Cable Nigeria Ltd., and John Zobis Company Nigeria Ltd.

The companies operate across manufacturing, energy, construction, and distribution of certified electrical products.

The editors commended the scale of operations at Zobis Electrical Wires and Cable Limited, describing it as a thriving industrial hub staffed by skilled workers, technicians, and engineers.

The facility, sitting on more than 400 plots of land at Okoti-Odekpe in Anambra State, is considered one of the largest individually owned manufacturing complexes in the state, complete with corporate offices, warehouses, staff quarters, and a hospital under construction.

They further noted that the company ranks among the top 20 most successful and visible enterprises in Anambra State, based on staff strength, capital investment, production capacity, and corporate social responsibility.

Ezeobi’s business footprint, spanning Onitsha, Abuja, Aba, Rivers, and Lagos States, was also cited as evidence of his growing influence in Nigeria’s industrial space.

Beyond business, the Board of Editors said his philanthropic contributions strengthened his nomination.

He has supported young entrepreneurs, built homes for low-income families, constructed roads in his host community, and renovated schools.

His ongoing investment in a 12-floor commercial mall, designed as a one-stop centre for electrical and consumer products, was also noted as a bold step toward job creation and urban development.

The delegation described Ezeobi as “the new face of Nigerian industrialization,” combining youthfulness, ambition, and social responsibility.

They expressed confidence that he is on course to becoming one of the nation’s major industrial players in the coming years.

The award will be formally presented to him on January 31, 2026, in Lagos, alongside other distinguished honorees including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.