Stories by Seun Ibiyemi
Solomon Ewanehi, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Solewant Group has issued a compelling call for African nations to prioritize local content as the cornerstone of energy security and industrialization.
Speaking at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2026 in Lagos, Ewanehi argued that a nation’s development is inextricably linked to the technical skills and systems possessed by its people, asserting that building local capacity is the fundamental mechanism for nation-building.
He expanded the definition of local content beyond simple workforce training, describing it as a sophisticated ecosystem that requires the alignment of technology, financing, governance, and industrial infrastructure.
According to Ewanehi, when these pillars are successfully integrated, local content transforms from a policy requirement into a powerful catalyst for economic change.
He noted that by empowering indigenous firms, African countries can significantly increase productivity, ensure safer project delivery, and reduce the long-standing economic drain caused by a heavy reliance on foreign imports and expertise.
While acknowledging that countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Namibia have made progress in creating frameworks for local participation, Ewanehi identified critical barriers that continue to hinder growth, including limited access to capital for local firms and a lack of transparency in procurement.
To demonstrate the potential of indigenous growth, he pointed to Solewant Group’s own expansion from a single facility in 2016 to a 56,000-square-meter industrial park.
The company’s recent launch of a fully automated pipe coating plant and its expansion into Namibia serve as practical examples of how African companies can lead the energy transition.
Looking toward the future, Ewanehi highlighted the Solewant Energy Training Institute (SETI) as a vital engine for developing the next generation of technical talent.
He maintained that Africa’s industrial future cannot be sustained by indefinitely importing expertise, but must instead be built on the competence of its own workforce and the maturity of its local supply chains.
The address concluded with a forward-looking commitment to the upcoming Africa Energy Summit in November 2026, where the focus will remain on scaling the innovation necessary to secure the continent’s industrial independence.