By Dickson Omobola

Mr. Solomon Ewanehi is a distinguished entrepreneur and industrial strategist whose career reflects resilience, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to national development.

An indigene of Edo State, he began his educational journey in Esan South-East before earning a degree in Economics and Statistics from Bendel State University, Ekpoma. Determined to strengthen his leadership capacity, he later obtained an MBA in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, now Rivers State University.

An economist by training and a visionary industrialist by calling, Ewanehi’s early career in the oil and gas servicing sector saw him work with reputable firms such as Ukemezi Ventures and ABB SOIMI (Nig.) Ltd.

He later served as Executive Director (Operations) at Beva Group of Companies Ltd., where he deepened his expertise in operations management and large-scale industrial coordination.

These experiences laid the foundation for the establishment of Solewant Group, where he now serves as Group Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a world-class integrated oil and gas organisation, specialising in steel pipe manufacturing, pipe coating application solutions, pipe and metal fabrication, and pipeline construction services for the oil, gas, water, and allied industries.

A defining feature of Solewant Group’s growth story is its strong alignment with Nigeria’s local content development agenda. At a time when critical pipeline coating and fabrication services were largely outsourced abroad, Ewanehi invested heavily in domestic industrial capacity. The Group’s pipe coating plant, acclaimed as the largest in Africa, significantly reduces reliance on imported coated pipes and strengthens Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in energy infrastructure development. By localising advanced coating technologies such as multi-layer polyethene and polypropylene systems, Solewant has positioned Nigeria as a competitive hub for pipeline solutions in Africa.

Beyond infrastructure, Solewant’s commitment to local content translates into job creation, skills development, and technology transfer. The company has created employment opportunities across engineering, manufacturing, laboratory testing, logistics, and project management. Through its oil and gas training institute and in-house technical programs, Solewant fosters indigenous expertise in pipe manufacturing, coating technologies, and fabrication processes-ensuring that knowledge once sourced externally is now cultivated locally.

The Group’s industrial complex in Rivers State stands as a testament to this vision. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, fabrication yards, and advanced laboratories, it enables the execution of complex coating and fabrication projects for International Oil Companies (IOCs), indigenous producers, and EPC contractors. This domestic capability supports Nigeria’s energy value chain while contributing to foreign exchange conservation and economic growth.

Solewant Group’s contributions have earned both national and international recognition. In 2022 and 2023, the company received the Best Oil & Gas Contractor of the Year Awards in acknowledgement of its investments in steel pipe manufacturing, coating capacity expansion, and project excellence. In May 2024, it was named Best African Oil and Gas Contractor of the Year in Accra, Ghana. Further recognition came in June 2025, when Mr. Ewanehi received the Britrise Achievers Award at the House of Lords, Westminster, United Kingdom, honouring his positive impact on pipe coating solutions across Africa.

At the heart of this success is Ewanehi’s leadership philosophy, building institutions that endure. Through periods of economic volatility and industry uncertainty, he has sustained growth by investing in innovation, strengthening corporate governance, and building a high-performance team. His approach emphasises integrity, client satisfaction, and consistent project delivery as non-negotiable standards.
The Group operates through five subsidiaries, each delivering specialised services across the oil, gas, water, and allied sectors. Their collective success underscores the effectiveness of a leadership model that combines strategic planning with operational discipline. Even amid challenging market conditions that saw many enterprises struggle, Solewant continued expanding its capacity and reinforcing its relevance within the energy ecosystem.

A lifelong learner, Mr. Ewanehi has attended numerous professional courses and seminars across Nigeria, Europe, and the United States, focusing on pipe and metal manufacturing, coating technologies, marketing, and corporate governance. He was inducted as a Fellow of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Governance by IARSA in 2022 and received an honorary doctorate in Conflict and Peace Resolution from the UNPOLAC Foundation in Lagos in 2023.

Beyond corporate achievements, Solomon Ewanehi remains committed to simplifying complex industrial challenges and translating them into sustainable solutions. His investments in world-class facilities and technical education reflect a belief that Africa’s energy future must be driven by indigenous capacity, innovation, and excellence.

Through Solewant Group, he has not only built a thriving enterprise but also advanced Nigeria’s local content aspirations, demonstrating that with vision and strategic investment, domestic industry can compete globally. His leadership continues to shape a narrative of resilience, industrial growth, and transformative impact within Africa’s energy sector.