Coates Brothers (West Africa) Limited - Complete Corporate History and Director Biographies
Established on June 13, 1966 under Registration number RC 4931, Coates Brothers (West Africa) Limited is Nigeria and West Africa's pioneering manufacturer of industrial liquid packaging inks, water-based flexography, sheetfed offset, gravure lamination, tin printing inks, coil coatings, can lacquers, and specialty liquid colourants.
Our Products and Industrial Solutions
Aquabrite Ink: Water-based technical ink system engineered for high-performance printing on corrugated cartons and Kraft papers.
Sunester Petlam Ink: High-bond strength solvent lamination printing ink for PET film and extrusion adhesive lamination.
Tin Printing Inks: Sheetfed offset lithographic inks for printing TFS and ETP steel containers.
Coateslam Ink: Highly elastic solvent ink for LDPE and PETG shrink sleeves and shrink nylons.
Flexo Ink: Alcohol-reducible general-purpose co-solvent flexographic ink for BOPP & PE nylons.
Coil Coatings: High-performance structural baking finishes for steel coils and roofing sheets.
Metal Coatings & Can Lacquers: FDA-compliant Epoxy-Phenolic interior hygiene can liners and exterior high-gloss lacquers.
Liquid Colourings for Soap & Cosmetics: Alkali-resistant highly-pigmented dye dispersions safety approved for bar soaps and detergents.
Corporate Governance & Board of Directors
Elder Felix Ohiwerei (OFR) - Chairman & Founder
Felix Omoikhoje Aizobeoje Ohiwerei (OFR), who hails from Uzebba in Owan Local Government of Edo State, was born on the 18th of January 1937. He attended Government Secondary School, Owerri; Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan and University College, Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan).
Upon graduation from the University College Ibadan in June 1961, Mr. Ohiwerei taught for nine months before joining Nigerian Breweries in April 1962 as Manager-In-Training. Shortly afterward, he was promoted to the position of Field Sales Manager and in that capacity, he served in the West and Mid-West and returned to Lagos in 1965 as Promotions Manager. In 1966 he was sent on attachment to Elida Gibbs (a Unilever Company in the UK). He returned to Lagos eighteen months later to assume the position of Star Product Manager. Before becoming Marketing Manager in 1974, Mr. Ohiwerei held the positions of Lager Product Group Manager and General Brands Manager.
He was appointed to the Board of NB Plc in 1977 as Marketing Director, and in 1982 was seconded to UAC Foods Division as General Manager. In June 1986, he went to UAC International, London (a Unilever Company) as a Senior Manager in Nominated African Territories Regional Management. Mr. Ohiwerei was appointed Deputy Chairman/Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc in 1987, became Chairman/Managing Director in June 1989, and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the company in 1997. He retired from the service of Nigerian Breweries in June 1999 and was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of the company in July 1999 and retired from the Board in December 2007. He was also Chairman Unilever Nigeria Plc from January 1998 to December 2007. He was also a Director of Shell Closed Pension Fund Administrator until April 2009.
He is Chairman of Coates Brothers (West Africa) Limited, Jubilee Life Mortgage Bank, Asset & Resource Management Company Ltd, Bankers Warehouse Limited, e-Transact International Limited, World Dove Media Plc; Chairman, Friendship Bible Fellowship, National Director, Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International, Chairman, Ashford & McGuire, and Fidson Healthcare Limited. He was a Member, Heineken Africa Advisory Council; Member, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan – 2000/2004. In December 2003, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission for a period of four years. He has also been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Redeemer’s University for seven years.
Mr. Ohiwerei is a Fellow, Nigerian Marketing Association; Fellow, Geography Society of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Directors; Fellow, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LL.D) from the University of Ibadan. He is also a recipient of the Zik’s Prize in Leadership Award, the Order of Orange Nassau by the Queen of the Netherlands, and Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).
Mr. Greg V. Ojieh - Managing Director / CEO
Greg is a COREN registered Mechanical Engineer with two Masters degrees; one in Engineering and the other in Business Administration. Starting out as maintenance engineer and after holding various engineering positions of increasing responsibilities, he rose to become chief engineer of NB Plc’s then flagship Ibadan brewery in 1992. Due to his exhibited commercial awareness and business management skills he was appointed pioneer general manager of the company’s soft drinks business division in 1996 with P&L responsibility for the new division with a seat on the Executive management committee of the company for the next 10 years prior to his voluntary early retirement in 2007.
After retiring he worked with Cadbury Nigeria Plc where he spent 4 years (2010 to 2014) as General Manager to turn its cocoa processing subsidiary (Stanmark Cocoa Processing Co, Ondo) from loss to profit making. Deploying his robust engineering, operations, financial and management expertise, the company was returned to profitability in the 3rd year after which the next one year was spent in grooming, installing and guiding a new management to ensure sustenance of profitable operations of the factory.
During his over 25 years career in Nigerian Breweries/Heineken, Greg attended very many senior technical and management courses in various institutions abroad.
Since leaving Cadbury Nigeria Plc Greg has focused his attention on managing and growing Fixed Assets Enhancement Company Limited (FASECO); a company he founded with a few of his ex-Nigerian Breweries colleagues.
Greg assumed the position of Managing Director of Coates Brothers West Africa Limited.
Idode Ohiwerei - Executive Director
Idode Ohiwerei is an architect, builder, and real estate development professional with over 16 years of technical and managerial experience delivering high-quality construction and infrastructure projects across Nigeria. With dual degrees in Environmental Science and Architecture, he combines academic depth, design expertise, and operational efficiency to lead successful projects.
As the Principal Architect of Detailed Designs Ltd., a full-service architectural and construction firm based in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, he oversees architectural design, renovations, refurbishments, and turnkey building solutions for private clients, corporations, and institutions, with a strong reputation for precision-driven execution, innovative design, and adherence to quality standards.
Idode is also a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s built environment sector, holding significant ownership in Detailed Structures Limited and serving as a director at Resource Intermediaries Ltd and Coates Brother (West Africa) Ltd, where he contributes to corporate governance and strategic real estate investments.
Throughout his career, he has managed and supervised notable projects, including the Nigerian Tobacco Company National Headquarters in Ikoyi, the reconstruction of Access Bank’s Marina branch, the rehabilitation of Government College Bomadi under the Petroleum Trust Fund, and the design and construction of the Bankers Warehouse Cash-In-Transit Centre in Ilupeju. Recognized for his professionalism, hands-on leadership, and ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, Idode continues to drive innovative, sustainable, and scalable solutions within Nigeria’s real estate and construction industry, contributing to urban development and infrastructure modernization.
Ekeinde Ohiwerei - Executive Director
Ekeinde Ohiwerei is a results-driven executive with extensive experience in asset and operations management, corporate services, operational excellence, and strategic leadership. As an Executive Director of the company, he brings a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, ensuring that the business consistently delivers high-standard printing solutions tailored to client needs.
With a proven track record in managing complex operations and driving innovation, he plays a key role in shaping the company's direction, strengthening client relationships, and positioning the business for sustainable growth in a competitive market.
