I ask again. As the clean energy revolution continues to gather momentum, why is Nigeria not exploiting the increased global demand for glass that it is fuelling?

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Are Nigerians aware of the fact that with the growing demand for solar panels, the global glass industry is worth over $105bn a year

[2] I hope President Tinubu knows that the global glass manufacturing market size was valued at $106.44bn in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% between 2022 and 2030

[3] Due to the increasing investments in solar energy, the processed glass demand for solar panels is witnessing unprecedented growth. This in turn is propelling the manufacturing of these panels, which Nigeria should be exploiting to the maximum

[4] Also, rising spending on residential and commercial construction, along with the growing penetration of recyclable materials in the packaging sector, is anticipated to boost the growth of the global glass market

[5] Glass products have various end-uses such as façades, windows, doors and railings in the construction industry. From what I can see, the opportunities are endless

[6] Glass’s rising usage in the construction industry is compelling manufacturers to expand their production to cater to the growing demand. Furthermore, increasing demand for glass containers such as bottles and ampoules in the food and beverage and medical industries is boosting manufacturing

[7] Also, the growth of flat glass is credited to growing infrastructural developments, coupled with rising investments in residential and commercial buildings. For instance, according to the National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency of India, the domestic construction industry is likely to reach $1.4trn by 2025.

[8] In 1982, a gentleman called Chief Michael Ajasin, the then Ondo State governor spotted this gap in the market and sought to address it with the founding of the Oluwa Glass Company in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Oluwa Glass Company was going to be Africa’s only glass manufacturer and would have had a monopoly on the continent

[9] However, given the vandals that we are in Nigeria, we destroy every single one of nature’s gifts. Oluwa Glass Company went into receivership around 2006 after the Ondo State government had pumped in something like $5.5m into it.

[10] As we speak, the Igbokoda area of Ondo State where the Oluwa Glass Company is locates is still littered with hills that produce the special rock glass or soda ash that is the primary raw material to furnish the factory but alas, we simply cannot carry out a basic function of tapping into raw materials, processing them and churning out finished products. Is this a skills problem, a limited intellectual problem or just plain ignorance and primitivity?

ayoakinfe@gmail.com