By Ajibola Akindele, Country President, Schneider Electric, West Africa
The world has become a global village, and no country exists in isolation. In every sector, nations are competing—whether directly or indirectly—for influence, market share, and relevance. For Nigeria, industrial automation is not just a modern convenience; it is a critical tool for survival and success in an increasingly digital and competitive global economy.
Industrial automation is the competitive edge we must adopt to transform our industries, making them more efficient, more transparent, and ultimately more profitable. When we automate, we do more than streamline operations; we empower better decision-making, boost productivity, and enable sustainable growth. Industries that adopt automation can reinvest their profits to scale, improve their environmental footprint by reducing emissions, and ensure long-term viability.
But we must act quickly. The risk of falling behind is steep as global competitors are evolving rapidly, by leveraging automation to leapfrog traditional models and dominate markets. If Nigeria does not automate and do so strategically and at scale, we will find ourselves overlooked in an economic era defined by efficiency and intelligence.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap: From Ignorance to Impact
With over 45% of Nigerians off the grid and persistent instability in power supply, industries are often forced to generate their own power. However, several obstacles remain. Many of Nigeria’s factories were built decades ago with outdated equipment. The cost of automation is often viewed as exorbitant, and resistance to change is common, especially when it involves upskilling or rethinking long-standing processes. There is also a widespread lack of understanding of automation’s true value: its ability to enhance transparency, predictability, and decision-making while positioning companies for long-term growth.
At Schneider Electric, we’ve experienced this journey firsthand. For over 25 years in Nigeria, we have stood firm in our commitment to developing people, driving innovation, and delivering sustainable automation solutions across key sectors.
Our footprint touches all major segments: power and grid, oil and gas, construction, cloud and service providers, food and beverage, and manufacturing. Through industrial automation and digital software, we’ve brought visibility and control to critical operations, helping industries reduce downtime, optimise energy use, and enhance operational decisions.
In the oil and gas sector, Schneider Electric solutions contribute to 60% of the automation and electrification of oil and fuel production in Nigeria. In power, our innovations—like the pioneering SF6-free switchgear—are helping stabilise the grid while minimising environmental harm. And in manufacturing, our energy-efficient technologies, like sub-starters, variable frequency drives, and predictive analytics software, are optimising productivity and reducing cost.
Empowering Nigeria’s Workforce: Capacity Building for a Digital Future
Despite some resistance, it is important to debunk the myth that automation replaces jobs. On the contrary, automation drives expansion, which creates new roles requiring new skillsets. This presents an opportunity to empower our workforce with digital capabilities, making them globally competitive.
According to the World Economic Forum 2025, advancements in technologies, particularly AI and information processing (86%); robotics and automation (58%); and energy generation, storage and distribution (41%), are expected to have a divergent effect on jobs, driving both the fastest-growing and fastest-declining roles, and fuelling demand for technology-related skills, including AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity and technological literacy, which are anticipated to be the top three fastest growing skills.
Jobs will not disappear; they will evolve. The future of work in Nigeria must be built around upskilling, reskilling, and creating value through technology.
The opportunities are already here. Nigeria, like many parts of West Africa, is undergoing significant industrialisation. Migration from rural to urban areas is contributing to the growth of cities, and more industries are setting up across the country. To sustain this growth, industries are increasingly seeking improved productivity, efficiency, and sustainability, making automation a natural and necessary progression.
So, what is the call to action?
Automate now. Automate as much as you can. Businesses in Nigeria and beyond are embracing this shift, and those who delay risk falling behind. The industrial world is changing fast, and automation is not a trend; it’s the standard.
To remain relevant in this global village, Nigeria must embrace industrial automation not as a luxury but as a strategic imperative. It’s our key to economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and global competitiveness.
