The regulatory body for packaging activities in Nigeria – Institute of Packaging Nigeria (IOPN) in conjunction with Institute of Packaging, USA – has concluded plans to start online packaging technology courses for its member.
This was made known by Alhaji Ahmed Omah – General Secretary, IOPN and also the 1st Vice President – Africa Packaging Organisation (APO) during an interview with WHERE To Print magazine. He disclosed that, “as part of our programmes for the year, we will be collaborating with our colleagues in Australia and the World Packaging Organisation to organise residential training in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics packaging in the third quarter of the year. We are also planning to finalise arrangement for online training with Institute of Packaging United States for Packaging Technology courses, sponsored by some international organisations to members on scholarship”.
Speaking on the Institute’s relationship with Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), he said there was a very healthy relationship between IOPN and CIPPON that they have met on several occasions to exchange ideas. He informed that packaging is not the same as printing, that printing is a sub section of packaging; which he said is far beyond printing and imaging. He noted that IOPN had no challenges in working with CIPPON because – as in other advanced countries – both bodies collaborate and work together to help grow their economy.
On IOPN achievements within the past year, Omah informed that the Institute was able to put together quite number of training programmes, seminars and workshops to educate its members on packaging innovations, trends and best practices. Last year programme was supported by the Australian Institute of Packaging and Africa Packaging Organisation attended by packaging practitioners from companies such as Nestle, Cadbury, Guinness, Niger Biscuits, and Studio Press as it also had facilitators from Australia, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.
