Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appealed to industries and companies operating in the State to be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), for continued development and industrial harmony.

Governor Abiodun made the appeal during the commissioning of the first fibre optic cable manufacturing factory in sub-Saharan Africa by Coleman Wire and Cable at KM 34 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Arepo, saying the establishment of the factory would boost his administration's innovation and development of the digital economy infrastructure.

The Governor affirmed that it would also help in conserving the already scarce foreign exchange, promote tech transfer, generate employment, and alleviate poverty, adding that the factory would further deepen the economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States of America.

"I urge all private industries in Ogun State to be mindful of their Corporate Social Responsibility, while  the host communities on the other hand should continue to display a high level of cooperation, by doing so, all the benefits associated with the presence of industries will be realised.

"In this regard, I want to call on other well-meaning individuals and organisations to tap into the resources of the State, as industries are expected to complement the existing infrastructure facilities that have been provided by the government through prompt payment of their taxes", he said.

Governor Abiodun also noted that his administration's efforts at building a technologically advanced State had earned it several awards in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital economy by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Business Day Newspaper in 2019, Independent Newspaper, Daily Times in 2021.

In his speech, the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, represented by the Director of Industrial Development, Mr. Adewale Bakare, said the company's achievement in the manufacturing sector had further built confidence in the Nigerian economy and place her among African countries with the capacity to produce fibre optic cable in the continent.

Adebayo noted that the successes recorded by the company so far were testimony that the nation's journey to Industrialisation was on the right track, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to support the private sector with a genuine interest in developing and reinforcing the economy through job and wealth creation, as well as technology transfer.

On his part, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Marybeth Leonard, represented by the Commercial Attache, Mr. David Russell, stated that Nigeria is a country with limitless potential in terms of raw materials and human capacity, adding that the factory would impact the State and country, as it would create jobs and engender industrialisation.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer,  Coleman Wire and Cable, Mr. George Onafowokan, attributed the success of the company to the Federal and State Governments’ commitment to encouraging local content policy and creating the enabling environment for business to thrive.