“I had no idea they made these things in Dorset. There you go.”

The words of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, no less, at a UK-Africa Investment Summit where he singled out Low Energy Designs Ltd for special mention.

The Blandford company has had a long working history with Nigeria, supplying LED lighting throughout Lagos State dating back more than 12 years.

Over the next 12 months it will be part of a ‘Light up Lagos’ project delivered by the UK and Nigerian consortium LEDCo in partnership with the Lagos State Electricity Board.

Alan Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Low Energy Designs, pictured left, was among a number of business leaders invited to the summit.

Hosted by the PM, it brought together 21 African countries with UK and African companies

The summit laid the foundations for new partnerships between the UK and African nations based on trade, investment, shared values and mutual interest.

A total of 27 new commercial deals worth over £6.5bn from across the African markets were signed.

The Prime Minister used his opening speech to illustrate examples of existing and new partnerships from UK businesses.

He said: “We are already one of the biggest partners for countries across Africa.

“Look at the billions of pounds worth of deals that are being finalised just here today and that we are announcing.

“In Nigeria’s Oyo State every street light is being installed with low carbon high efficiency low emission diodes from Dorset.

“I had no idea they made these things in Dorset. There you go.”

Low Energy Designs has already delivered more than 100 km of street lighting and intelligent remote control systems into Oyo State.

The results have been so positive that the remit is being expanded to cover an additional 540 km which will also include CCTV and wifi coverage of all the roads.

The systems are not reliant on any power from the grid but instead deploy Low Energy Designs’ hybrid power system.

Low Energy Designs has employed more than 200 Nigerians in Lagos to help deliver the projects and a further 80 Nigerians in Oyo State.

It is also investing over $6m in the construction and establishment of an LED lighting and hybrid energy storage assembly plant in Nigeria.

Mr Parker said: “To achieve a legacy in delivering all these projects that are proven to withstand the test of time, and not there just to make money then leave, has taken a lot of work between the state governments and ourselves and has been supported by the British High Commission.

“Our company has proven over the past 17 years of working in Nigeria that all of its projects have succeeded and are still there working today.

“By continuing to work with the Nigerian people and empowering them in the success of these projects is the perfect way to achieve a brighter future for us all,” he added.

Low Energy Designs Ltd was founded in 2007.

Today it has a multi million pound annual turnover, a list of prestigious clients and has installed on every continent, including Antarctica.

Low Energy Designs was the first company in Europe to manufacture LED lighting.