The Nigerian National Printers held its maiden edition of the Nigerian National Printers Conference on Tuesday, 27th of November, 2018 at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. The one-of-its-kind conference with the theme: THE ROLE OF NIGERIA PRINTING INDUSTRY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, saw in attendance over 300 print and allied stakeholders from every State of the Federation with representatives of Government from Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment; Ministry of Information & Culture; Ministry of Science & Technology among other Officials from the State Security Forces.
With prominent stakeholders, government officials and several technical presentations from academic experts, the highlight of the Conference was the Opening Speech by the Chairman of the Occasion – Mrs. Folorunso Alakija – Vice Chairman, Digitalreality Print LTD who enjoined all to work together to see to the formulation of a National Policy on Printing that that would not only play a major role in the implementation of government’s Import Substitution Policy to encourage the revival of the three paper mills the government established in the 1970s i.e. the Jebba, Iwopin and Oku-Iboku Paper Mills but most importantly ensure the conservation of Nigeria’s Forex reserves, reduced dependency on importation of raw materials, stimulation of local productivity and industrial enhancement, ‘between them, these mills can adequately supply the paper and board needs of printers in Nigeria’ opined Mrs. Alakija who also noted that the ancillary businesses that originate from the value chain would create not just a single line but a massive web of other profitable occupations.
One of the fallouts of the conference which was organized by the CHANGE GROUP in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment is that a National Policy on Printing within the value chain of manpower development, creative, manufacturing, equipment and consumables from ink, printing paper, pulp etc. is in the offing as stakeholders begin a work-group committee with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment. This is to help showcase the potentials of the Printing Industry particularly in employment generation and how the industry can contribute to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (EGRP) and the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) of the Federal Government.