The Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom has been invested as the Grand Patron of Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON), Benue State Chapter.
Though it is customary to accord the sitting Governor of a State the recognition of an association’s patronship, WHERE To Print gathered that the Governor was accorded the investiture due to his immense contributions to the printing profession in Benue State in particular and the nation at large. According to the President of the newly inaugurated ASSPPON Benue State Chapter – Lion Comrade Sunday Musa, Governor Ortom was accorded the recognition not just for his positive impact in employment and contracting printing jobs to Printers in the State but also over his; “numerous achievements recorded since assumption of office despite limited resources. We are optimistic that you will continue to deliver on the gains of democracy to the people of the State, leading us with the fear of God, selflessness and accountability.”
|
 |
|
In his response, Governor Ortom who is the 5th Executive Governor of Benue State and equally a Printer, though was unavoidably absent but was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pst (Dr.) Terwase Orbunde said he felt humbled by the association gesture and promised to do more in his capacity not only for Printers but also to ensure safe and conducive atmosphere for all businesses to thrive in Benue State popularly referred to as the nation’s food basket due to its agricultural prowess.
The recognition of Dr. Samuel Ortom coincided with the inauguration of Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON), Benue State Chapter which hitherto operated as Benue Printers Association that limits the body’s area of operation, right and privileges. With the inauguration, members of Benue State Chapter of ASSPPON are now fully integrated into the activities of industry’s regulatory body – Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) and will enjoy all privileges and benefits of practicing as printing professionals in Nigeria as enshrined in CIPPON Act 24 of 2007.
At the august occasion, two Council Members of CIPPON – Messrs Koko T. Clement and Niyi Adesoye while educating Benue Printers on the need to formally obtain, fill and submit CIPPON Registration Forms to begin membership procedure also enjoined them to be united and support their leadership in order to fully benefit from the association’s numerous plans and welfare packages.
According to Mr. Adesoye, “with your registration as CIPPON member, we’ll be able to know genuine Printers and deal with quacks that are affecting our reputation as Printers thereby ensuring printing jobs are done by qualified and registered Printers. Not only that, you will be recognised by CIPPON to fully practice printing business in Nigeria with all benefits as Printers”.
|
 |
|
To Mr. Koko T., Government through its agencies needs to support the Printing Industry in Nigeria by increasing its patronage of registered Printers while recognising the printing profession as one of the major sectors that contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, “this profession has enough manpower, as our Universities and Polytechnics have graduated formally, thousands of students who read core printing, industrial and graphics designs, and apprentice informally trained in this field and to crown it all, the profession now has a Chartered Institute, which will boost the professional needs of the teaming apprentices and graduates by professionally training and retraining them to meet today’s standard of printing”. He therefore called on both the Federal and State Governments to create the Office of the Printer General of the Federation and the States respectively to bring close, the monitoring of the profession’s activities and ultimately, create employment for Nigerians.
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Without doubt, the inauguration of Benue Chapter of ASSPPON (now CIPPON affiliate) is a new dawn for the printing profession in the State as members are assured of innumerable benefits, aids and intervention programmes to support their print and allied businesses. The event, which took place on Monday 31st August 2020 at Hotel Bobec Makurdi, Benue State Capital was attended by Executive Members of the association as well as Printers and allied practitioners from across the State.
