Victor EzejaManaging Director of Transgreen Nigeria Limited, Mr Cyprian Orakpo, has highlighted the company’s transformation journey from manufacturing and sales of audio and video tapes to investing in production of medical consumables.
Behind every successful enterprise, management experts have said, lies tales of vision, determination, hard work, resilience and innovation.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelTransgreen Nigeria Limited’s transformation journey from producing CD/DVDs to manufacturing medical consumables is a significant pivot that reflects the company’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and leverage new opportunities.
During the commissioning of the company’s ultra-modern O-Care Disposable Syringe factory in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State on Thursday, 13 March 2025, the Managing Director said company’s story “is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation and a deep belief in the potential of Made in Nigeria products.”
According to him, the company started in 1993 as traders in audio and video tapes under the brand name Transerve Nigeria Limited. It expanded into manufacturing of CD/DVD with Transerve Disc Technologies Limited, becoming the largest producer of optical discs in Africa by volume in 2015.
“However, the disruption of optical disc technology forced us to rethink our business model, and that led us to pivot into manufacturing medical devices,” Orakpo stated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck in 2020, Transgreen became the first Nigerian manufacturer of medical face masks, which was considered a critical product in the country at the time when global supply chains were disrupted.
“This was our contribution to the fight against the pandemic and a step towards a self-reliant healthcare system.”
Orakpo recalled that the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commissioned the O-Care Facemask produced from the facility, in July 2020, barely a few months after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Almost five years later, Transgreen has again unveiled another product line in medical consumables, the O-Care disposal Syringe factory, producing high quality sterile syringes.
He said the O-Care Disposable Syringe product “will not only help meet the healthcare needs of our nation but will also contribute to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports.”
He added that the company has a state-of-the-art facility, designed to produce high-quality, sterile syringes that meet their vision of becoming a world-class manufacturer of medical consumables that will be the preferred choice of all the stakeholders by the year 2032.
He, however, noted that the journey to the present point has been without difficulties.
He highlighted manufacturing challenges in the country such as prohibitive energy costs, access to capital, poor road transportation network, and burden of multiple taxes from different government agencies among others.
He said despite these obstacles, they remained committed to the company’s mission of “elevating healthcare everywhere.”
Orakpo appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene in making Alakoso Avenue, the longest road in Amuwo Odofin Industrial cluster, motorable with good drains and street lights.
He also pleaded with the state government to rid the roads of non-state actors who set up tolls within the industrial cluster. “These illegal tolls are not credited to government coffers and are consequently a sort of revenue losses for Lagos State and the unfortunate manufacturers,” he emphasised.
READ ALSO: ‘O-Care Syringe Factory A Great Milestone In Boosting In-country Manufacturing Of Medical Products’
He called for more partnership between Lagos State Government and local manufacturers by patronizing Made in Nigeria goods, especially health-related products.
According to him, “The sterility of imported syringes for example cannot be guaranteed as some of them might have been produced at facilities that don’t observe the industry best practices or outside regulatory supervisions, unlike locally manufactured syringes under the regulation of NAFDAC.”
He further urged the Minister of Health, NAFDAC, other relevant agencies under the health ministry to continue working to ensure the implementation of the Executive Order 2024 on Health for the benefit of Manufacturers in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: New Local Syringe Factory: Transgreen Donates 20,000 Syringes To Lagos Govt
He also urged the Director General of NAFDAC “to vigorously implement her recent policies on importation of Syringes to help local manufacturers.”
“This factory is a proof that, with determination, innovation, and the right support from government and financial institutions, made in Nigeria can not only meet the needs of our Country but can also contribute to global markets.
“We are committed to scaling up our operations and expanding the range of medical products we manufacture, which will create more jobs and contribute to the economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria,” he added
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
