Going by the prevailing economic challenges in the country as a result of significant drop in the price of crude oil on the international market resulting in dwindling fortunes of the Naira, Dr. Rotimi Oladele – MD/ CEO of Megavons (West Africa) Limited has called on the Federal Government to look inward and give support to the printing and publishing industry in Nigeria in order to achieve economic boom.
He made this call while presenting his paper on PRINTING: THE NEGLECTED PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC BOOM – DOING THE NEEDFUL IN NIGERIA at the Quarterly Roundtable and Dinner for Professionals in Printing & Publishing hosted by Megavons Print Academy. Dr. Oladele who is also the incumbent President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) noted that with government support in area like zero tariffs on imported printing equipment and consumables; there would be more investment with multiplier effects on the economy in employment, reduced crime rate, increased tax generation by the government thereby achieving the much needed economic boom. His submission was corroborated by the President and Chairman-In-Council of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) – Mr. Wahab A. O. Muhammed Lawal in his key note address where he urged print practitioners to support the Institute in its quest to reposition the industry.
Meanwhile, Publishing Consultant – Dr. Tosin Awolalu has posited that there is a future for publishing business in Nigeria. He noted in his paper presentation titled PUBLISHING IN NIGERIA ECONOMY: 2016 AND BEYOND that in spite of publishing challenges like unregulated industry which birth quacks, piracy, as well as the nation’s infrastructural defects, “Nigeria is still an interesting place where publishing business has great future”. However advised investors that; “in all likelihood – the future of publishing will be a mixed economy of print and digital rather than a one-way shift from print to digital, and the most successful publishers will be those who are able to structure their businesses in a way that enables them to take full advantage of both”.
The event also saw Professionals in the Printing & Publishing Industries such as Heidelberg Nigeria Limited, Afkar Printing & Publishing Limited, CIPPON among others awarded for their invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s economy. WHERE To Print was there and presents the event in images….
