Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi have enjoined the newly inaugurated Council of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers (CIPPON) to start high level of engagement with government and stakeholders through advocacy strategies that are noticeable to stakeholders in a bid to build a strong professional Institute for the industry.
Mr. Talabi gave this charge at CIPPON Business Dinner/ Lecture held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos to unveil the Institute’s Strategic Framework for 2019-2020. Speaking on the theme: Building a Strong Professional Institute for National Development, the Ogun State Scribe also advised the new Council to be selfless in contributing its quota to the growth and development of the printing profession in particular and the Nigerian economy in general.
“Put self below and service first. Some of us are expecting a lot from you. I know it’s not easy, but everybody is waiting to see result. The market is changing; we have practitioners among us who know where the shoe pinches. Get the best among us to properly articulate our issues and present them to the right quarters; that is when we can harness the benefit of our numbers” advised Mr. Talabi as he noted that the printing industry is a critical stakeholder in the country contributing as one of the highest employers of labour.
He also cautioned members of the Institute to reflect on the past mistakes of its founding fathers towards addressing the challenges affecting the body. According to Mr. Talabi: “Our founding fathers had a novel idea in mind, but in the process, something went wrong. So, I use this platform to urge the newly transformed CIPPON to reflect on the mistakes of the past by our founding fathers towards addressing the issue of non-commitment of members to the Institute’s Act; sustainability of print business; as well as the need to put service delivery first before personal gains”.
While charging CIPPON Council and members to look inward on how to best regulate the printing sector from undue infiltration by non-professionals, he also called new CIPPON Council to properly categorize membership, certification, and ensure inclusiveness of all printers in a bid to build a strong professional body for national development.
CIPPON President and Chairman-In-Council, Mr. Olugbemi Malomo in his earlier presentation of the Institute’s Strategic Framework for 2019-2020, said CIPPON would ensure a virile level playing field for all stakeholders to do business – making sure that the institutional framework of CIPPON would not only make printing profitable again but would also contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy through its multiplier effects as one of the largest employers of labour.
Also, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives – Mrs. Lola Akande who was represented by Director of Commerce – Mr. Hakeem Oduyinka Adeniji advised CIPPON members to support the vision of the Institute and the State through payment of relevant taxes to Lagos State Government in order to contribute to national development.
In a related development, President of Institute of Packaging of Nigeria (IOPN), Dr. Ajani Shakirudeen Abidemi said printing was an integral aspect of packaging whose role to national development was huge and very meaningful, commended CIPPON for its effort in changing the narrative to better the lot of its members. Also, one of the industry’s veterans who have been in printing business for over 50years, Publisher of Lantern Books, Otunba ‘Yinka Lawal – Solarin described printers as “very strategic partners of government”, whose role was evident in our daily life’s.
The Business Dinner/ Lecture was attended by top Printers in Nigeria, Government Functionaries and other critical stakeholders and Professional Bodies.
