Without doubt, Industry slogan of making printing profitable again is reverberating across the length and breadth of the country and ironically, Government seems to have keyed into it also. In an exclusive interview with the Official Number One Printer in the country – Federal Government Printer – Mr. Ittu Tommy Ittu, WHERE To Print gathered that the task of making print businesses profitable again needs concerted efforts of all stakeholders. In this excerpt, the Graphics cum Print Production Expert notes government’s desires and plans for the industry while offering invaluable advice to CIPPON Leadership in moving the industry to the next level.
AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WITH NEW CIPPON COUNCIL IN PLACE, WHAT WILL YOU LIKE THEM TO START DOING NOW?
CIPPON had a lot of issues in the past. The ACT guiding us has to be revisited; crossing our T’s and dotting our I’s to make sure that the ACT is properly placed – for us to carry out our assignments effectively. We need to rise as Printers again! Hold firm to our Profession, and I believe with the new leadership and the zeal we have as young people and stakeholders in the industry, we can move the industry forward especially to help the Nigerian economy in the area of corruption, counterfeiting, and fake documents. All hands must be on deck to make things move forward. I believe with the new CIPPON leadership on ground and other viable stakeholders, we can achieve greater heights.
AS THE CONTACT POINT FOR CIPPON AND GOVERNMENT, WHAT DO YOU ENVISAGE GOING FORWARD?
There is need for us to interact not just at Federal Level, but also at State Level. I believe each Government in the States of the Federation should have a policy to revamp all Government Presses; then everybody will sit up. My duty as a Government stakeholder is to advice government appropriately. It will take will-power, political peace and understanding but we have to be a formidable Pressure Group which government has to listen to.
‘There must be provision from the manufacturer no matter where the equipment coming from so that Nigerians can be able to, not only to operate but to carryout technical maintenance on the machines and with that the owner shall reap its benefits’
AS THE FOREMOST GOVERNMENT PRINTER WHAT ARE YOU DOING ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF LACK OF ADEQUATE TRAINING IN GOVERNMENT PRESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
Its quite unfortunate when people who do not have the interest of the press go there for personal use; they go there and bargain for things which are wrong. These equipment are very expensive; they go for hundreds of millions and people do not think it is right for them to have proper training. However, the standard is – if an equipment is acquired newly, there is always provision for both operational and technical maintenance of the equipment by the manufacturer. But we found out that more often than not, this is lacking. So, there must be provision from the manufacturer no matter where the equipment is coming from so that Nigerians can be able to, not only to operate but to carryout technical maintenance on the machines and with that the owner shall reap its benefits and also, the manufacturers should impact training on basic maintenance of the equipment to operators.
‘In terms of awarding degrees (and there are universities of technology around); it is for us to liaise as far as getting in touch with National Universities Commission (NUC) for the accreditation of some of these technical universities across the country to offer degrees that will aid the industry so that we can have good administrators’
WILL YOU WORK WITH CIPPON TO ENSURE THIS POLICY IS IN PLACE?
By virtue of the ACT, I am automatically a CIPPON Council Member. It is for us at Government Level to project these things out. With the new CIPPON leadership, we will work in the area of academics in terms of awarding degrees (and there are universities of technology around); it is for us to liaise as far as getting in touch with National Universities Commission (NUC) for the accreditation of some of these technical universities across the country to offer degrees that will aid the industry so that we can have good administrators in the industry.
WHAT POLICY SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM GOVERNMENT IN PRINT TRAINING?
Printing has to do with desire; also building basic skills to start even from the primary school stage where we have to train children and teach them what printing is all about. There are various types of printing, printing processes and techniques. There are also commercial and aesthetic prints; we have to involve basic training from the primary school sector. If printing can be taught at the primary and secondary school stages as well as tertiary, it will help us grow well. Also, the area of technical education needs to be improved, so that we can develop not only the printing industry but other sectors in manufacturing and production.
‘Medium scale entrepreneurs to come out as a corporative group so as to be able to access loans at low interests which will help them grow in the long term’
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PRINTING IN NIGERIA?
Printing will continue to be progressive because as we continue to participate in international affairs like going for exhibitions, conferences and the likes, Nigerians are better exposed and enlightened. In terms of business; Bank of Industry (BOI) is trying but for us to access the loans and the conditions required, I think Government needs to do more to encourage Printers in that aspect. Also Medium Scale Entrepreneurs should come out as Cooperative Group so as to be able to access loans at low interests, faster and easier which will help them to grow their Print Businesses in the long run.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR
You’re always welcome.