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In setting the stage for the First Year Anniversary/ Annual General Meeting plus Convention of the current Council of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), President & Chairman-In-Council, Mr. Olugbemi Malomo has announced a Leadership Challenge Initiative that will not only preserve the Printing Industry in Nigeria but will also make printing business profitable again. “The reason why we need to set up a Leadership Challenge is very simple; so that we can preserve our industry. So that we can make our industry profitable again” explains Mr. Malomo while giving account of his stewardship during the maiden edition of CIPPON Presidential Media Chat.
According to Mr. Malomo, it was imperative that as the current Council Members champion Accountability and Institutional Integrity within the industry, the onus lies on them to walk the talk; “In attainment of Institutional Integrity – which is not only the way the public perceives us, but also the way we also perceive ourselves, our ethics, the way we conduct our business. The truth is that we cannot achieve Institutional Integrity without having a way – leadership can evolve. Leadership is not just about popularity contest or how popular you are but leadership is about being able to solve problem” explained the President as he noted further that, that was the reason the Institute wanted to set up, “a structure whereby leadership can intentional emerge”.
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Earlier in his opening welcome remark, CIPPON Secretary – Mr. Akin Oduwole had informed that the Presidential Media Chat which coincided with the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the nation was intentional so that stakeholders could relate the Printing Industry that has been around since the 19th Century to its relevance in not just sustaining the people and the economy but in looking at the future that sustains generations yet unborn; “Diamonds are forever or so they say! What about an industry that has been around in Nigeria since the 19th Century and has (been) sustained generationally. How long more will the Printing Industry be relevant to the Nigerian families and economy. What is the future going forward?” he asked rhetorically paving the way for the President to highlight some of the details of the Leadership Challenge Initiative which bothered on the theme of DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION LEADERS.
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“When we talk about our leadership, we’ve seen that we have a great challenge in our leadership, so because of that we want to focus around the theme of what we’re doing today. About what our AGM/ Convention will be in a couple of months. We want to focus on developing the next generational leaders”, informed Mr. Malomo though while noting that full details of the initiative will be announced soon. He however emphasised key criterium with other modalities for the selection of potential leaders, such persons must have; “potential to be leaders. We’ll set up a Committee to interview them. At the end of the day, all the people that qualify will make the Institute’s Honours Roll. From the Institute’s Honours Roll, we’re going to pick between 25 and 50 depending on the resources we’re able to get – and we’re going to train them (in) becoming leaders. Leadership Challenge is open to any new generation” he enjoined while imploring stakeholders to not only nominate anyone they feel qualified for the Leadership Challenge but that they should also aspire for leadership position in their respective firms so that they could be well prepared for leadership position; “We call on Printers to aspire for leadership positions wherever they found themselves. It is imperative for us that, the people that are going to lead us in future are prepared”.
While enumerating some of the current Council’s accomplishments within one year in office such as Institutional Integrity of the printing profession; securing a befitting office location in the home of printing in Nigeria – Shomolu with requisite facilities for Secretariat functions; cordial working relationships amongst all tiers of Government especially Federal and State Governments as well as other regulatory authorities like the Copyright Commission, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON); organisation of Town House Meetings across the country for participatory governance of stakeholders even within the grassroot levels; nationwide advocacy for the Printing Profession to make printing profitable again; and formation of Clusters for Self-Regulation to mention just a few, the President noted that the Institute would have done more if not for the emergence of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which came unannounced but the Institute has gone beyond that to not only make registration form fee free for intending members but also put forth a Post COVID-19 Survival Strategy for the Printing Industry in Nigeria to the Federal Government which had warranted the Institute to be drafted into Government’s Committee on Palliative, all these in a bid to ensure printing jobs remain in Nigeria, and printing jobs are only for CIPPON licensed Printers.
On the Cluster Formation Policy adopted by the Council which some observers wrongly believe will lead to defiance and irresponsibility, Mr. Malomo informed rather that Self-Regulation would stimulate healthy competition amongst operators thereby lower, if not totally eliminate industry’s burning issues like price war, substandard quality, staff poaching etc; “When we talk about Self-regulation, there’s a misconception. People think (with Self-regulation) everybody can do whatever they like – no, that’s not what we are saying. Self-regulation means that with the Cluster, wherever you are, everything that has to do with regulation; you’re the one starting it, you’re the one initiating it. We look at it and use it as an example” he said while also noting that untoward business practices and conflict of interest issues between parties would have been resolved within the Cluster before they are bought to CIPPON Tribunal or the Council thereby allowing the Council to focus on how to make printing businesses profitable again in Nigeria.
In answering the question on how the Institute would accomplish some of his administration laudable plans given the fact that the Federal Government had stopped subvention to bodies like CIPPON, Mr. Malomo submitted that though there are other ways Government could support the Institute especially when constitutionally the Council has five representatives from Government with constructive advice from them, he however enjoined all stakeholders to rally round the Institute by contributing their quota; “You see, we have hundreds of thousands of people in this industry and if everyone of us do what we’re supposed to do, the need for subvention might not even be necessary” he summarised while quoting from the 35th President of the United States – John F. Kennedy inaugural speech of; ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’ emphasising that Nigeria has given Print Practitioners the Act to regulate, control, manage, and administration of Printers and related purposes in Nigeria, further analyzing that a Nigerian cannot go to another country and desire to set up a printing business or any other profession and would not be required to obtain prerequisite license to practice. “So, this country has given us enormous opportunities with a Body to regulate us so that we can ensure printing jobs remain in Nigeria” he said.
While commenting on skill development, local manufacturing of printing machines and consumables etc, the President said the Education Committee of the Institute had planned an Education Summit but COVID-19 had prevented the execution of the plan but the Institute was more than ready to support any initiative that would promote local production of print inputs; “We have started. Our Secretary – Mr. Oduwole who is the MD of Technology Global Services produced some materials that we can use locally. We are going to encourage that and others. We’re also going to put a lot of money on Research & Development” to aid local manufacturing of print inputs especially consumables and paper which would eventually reduce the cost of print and generate further employment opportunities in the print value-chain, he however submitted that all stakeholders must support these and many other initiatives of CIPPON by not only joining the Institute but by also paying their dues when the need arises.
Without doubt, the Institute has been embroiled in conflict with few aggrieved members for some time which the President acknowledged with efforts at reconciliation. “We can’t disrespect them. Personally, for me, even though they’re few – I recognise their importance particularly with what they’ve done. Without any doubt, we recognise that they’ve contributed to our industry and we cannot forget our history. We’ll continue to recognise that” he said as he explained further that the current Council was not set out to look for leadership position but for positive change which in the process, leadership was trust on them. “If the court says tomorrow, current Council, your time is up – go, we’ll not spend one second, we’ll leave. But the Institute is continuum. The leadership in the industry is continuum. That’s what why I said in my speech that: Let’s remove what divide us and let’s focus on what unite us”.
Mr. Malomo also responded to other questions that bothered on representation across the nation, freedom of association, and advocacies which he promised the Institute would continually champion to sustain the laudable achievements made within one year of the current CIPPON Council administration.
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And with Vote of Thanks from Comrade Jide Salako – a Council Member, the maiden Presidential Media Chat which was also virtually attended by media and other print stakeholders ended at around 1pm.