By Ranmilowo Ojalumo
Stakeholders in the Nigeria printing industry are currently bracing up for the first Nigerian National Printers Conference. The conference is schedule to hold on Tuesday 27th November, 2018 at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
The event is put together by top stakeholders in the printing industry under the aegis of Change Group in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment. According to the organizer, the conference is expected to showcase the potentials of the Nigeria Printing Industry particularly in employment generation and at the same time show how the industry can contribute to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (EGRP) and the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) of the Federal Government.
The organizer expects every stakeholder in the industry as well meaning Nigerians to attend the conference at no cost.
The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is expected to grace the event as the Special Guest of Honour and also give a keynote address. Also, the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah as well as the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed are expected to be Guest of honored at the event. The Vice Chairman, Digital reality, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija is expected to chair the event.
While addressing the media at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, Akin Oduwole who is the Secretary of the Central Working Committee for the event reiterated that the Nigerian government and the general public have wrong notion about the Nigerian printing Industry simply because they lack vital information about the industry.
He said “It is important that government shows interest in this industry that has the potential of providing millions
of jobs for Nigerians. Unfortunately, as we speak now, many government policies are working against the industry. Today, finished books are imported into the country at zero duty, whereas, paper which is the major material for printing attracted about 25% tariff.
“Today, Nigeria as a country spends several billions to import paper because our paper mills are moribund. Our books, election materials as well as packaging material are being printed abroad; this is not good for the country. Nigeria job must remain in Nigeria; this is the reason this conference is coming up”, Oduwole said.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Managing Director DCS Integrated Media Limited, Tunde Obokhai, the event manager said “we don’t want government to look at the printing industry with ignorance. Government needs a lot of information about the industry; hence we want to use the conference to give government vital information about the industry. The government has been talking about diversification and creation of job, I am sure the government will be surprise to know that printing industry can create millions of jobs within a year, but the industry needs good policy that can make it maximize its potential”.
Also speaking to newsmen, a member of the CWC, Mr. Gokey Oludare said the essence of the conference is to ensure that stockholders in the industry are in the same page with the government.
According to the organizer, the one-day Conference will feature paper presentations and also include panel discussions with the topics such as Revamping Pulp and Paper Production and Creating Employment in Nigeria; Forging a Synergy between the Procurement Act, the Electoral Act and the Executive Order 5 for Capacity Development in the printing Industry.
The Panelists include but not limited to Dr. Adeshola Adepoju – Director General of Forestry Research Institutes of Nigeria, Prof. (Mrs.) Gloria Elemo, Director General of Federal Institutes of Industrial Research, Princess Layo Okeowo – MAN Chairman, Pulp, Paper & Paper Products, Printing, Mr. Tokunboh Talabi – the Chairman of Superflux International Limited, and Mr. Jakob Bejer – Chairman, Heidelberg Nigeria Limited.
