I observe that as we enter 2026, the landscape has been defined by the PLUTO framework: Polarized, Liquid, Unilateral, Tense, and Omni-relational. Hence, high-stakes uncertainty is not just a disruption – it is our constant reality. These uncertainties stem from Geopolitical and Trade Disruption (rising Governments’ protectionism & tariffs that lead to higher operating costs and supply chain reconfigurations, etc.) to Economic Volatility (headline inflation, high cost of living that puts pressure on profit margins), and from Technology and AI Integration (where companies struggle to transition from experimentation to measurable Return on Investment – ROI – bearing in mind significant operational, security, legal, and reputational risks).
These unpredictabilities also arise from Operational and Supply Chain Pressures (as a result of aging infrastructure, persistent shortages in skilled labour, and increasing wage pressures), and Sustainability and Social Responsibility issues (arising from environmental, social, and governance – ESG – compliance to adoption of responsible frameworks designed to ensure ethical, sustainable business operations regulations). All these interconnected challenges make uncertainty become the operating norm rather than an exception.
That is why this 101st edition has been carefully curated to help readers navigate some of these challenges, as our SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLES provide expert analysis offering clear, actionable solutions. Before that, check out the latest developments in the print and allied industries that happened within the last two months in Nigeria and around the world, presented in PRINT IMPACT AROUND NIGERIA (from page 10) and others – PRINT IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD (from page 12).
To begin with, the SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE on pages 16 and 17 titled: TWO AWARDS FOR MONTGOMERY GROUP AFRICA AS THE EXHIBITIONS SECTOR CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE, presents the exciting news of Montgomery Group Africa being recognised with two Excellence in Marketing awards at the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) ROAR Awards.
Aptly captioned: INNOVATION, AUTOMATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN WEST AFRICA is the next SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE on pages 18 and 19 that examines how a large and youthful consumer base economy like Nigeria is driving demand across food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce, and how PROPAK West Africa 2026 has been positioned as the region’s No. 1 platform for players to scale capacity, improve efficiency, and meet evolving regulatory and sustainability requirements.
And to provide a focused marketplace for manufacturers, technology suppliers, and industry professionals, AgroPro Africa 2028 was launched as a dedicated trade platform serving Africa’s food, beverage, pulp, and paper processing industries. SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE on pages 20 and 21 shows how INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS WELCOME THE LAUNCH OF AGROPRO AFRICA 2028.
From CARBON BALANCING IN PACKAGING: BEYOND BOOKS AND PUBLISHING (pages 32 and 33) to THE POWER OF EXPERIENTIAL PRINT: HOW TACTILE AND MULTI-SENSORY ELEMENTS ADD VALUE TO PRINTED PRODUCTS (pages 34 and 36) and from THE PRINTER’S GUIDE TO THE SHORT-RUN LABEL MARKET (pages 38 and 39) to IS THE FUTURE OF PRINT TEMPORARY? REDEFINING INK WITH GROWINK (pages 40 and 41), all the SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLES in this lucid edition, as noted earlier, have been carefully curated from leading industry experts’ analysis and offer clear, actionable solutions for navigating today’s complex print and allied business environments.
Finally, the COVER STORY, adapted from the drupa blog (www.drupa.com), exposes a variety of forces that influence design decisions long before colour, typography, or imagery are considered. To fully understand design and print trends in 2026, check these forces out on pages 26, 27, 28, and 29 in the piece titled: PRINT DESIGN 2026: NAVIGATING CONVERGING CONSTRAINTS.
Before you finish reading this special issue, I believe that your perception will be redirected from merely seeing the uncertainties to being positively impacted to align and engage with the innumerable opportunities in the industry. Until next edition, please continue to be grateful; don’t stop but keep pressing, build meaningful relationships, and create lasting and invaluable impact.
Take care and continue to do good!
