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Over the years, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (better known as Heidelberg) knows that the key to print business success lies in coordinated interaction of people, processes, materials, and machines. That is why the company has become the reliable and competent partner for all printing needs deploying user-friendly systems, customized products, and innovative services to deliver maximum production quality with high return on investment. And with responsible Corporate Governance that not only adhere to both legal and regulatory frameworks but also promote and support investors’ confidence as well as other stakeholders’ interests in the industry, the Managing Director of its Nigerian arm – Heidelberg Nigeria LTD – Mr. Godwin Ogilo was recently appointed Chairman of newly formed Committee of OEM/ Equipment Sellers Cluster of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON). WHERE To Print sought to know how he will achieve the task ahead as well as his thoughts on other sundry industry issues. Below is excerpt of the interview:
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWLY FORMED – COMMITTEE OF OEM/ EQUIPMENT SELLERS CLUSTER OF CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL PRINTERS OF NIGERIA (CIPPON), TELL US HOW YOU FEEL NOT MINDING THE TASKS AHEAD?
As you already know, I work for Heidelberg Nigeria LTD and our company is always in the forefront of supporting the Printing Industry in Nigeria and worldwide. As the team leader in Nigeria, I must uphold our company’s vision; this assignment is another call to serve our beloved industry and I have no hesitation to accept the task of championing this noble course from CIPPON.
HOW WILL YOU ENSURE A UNITED FRONT FOR YOUR CLUSTER ESPECIALLY IN POLICY FORMULATION AS IT AFFECTS THE INDUSTRY?
I am a team player coupled with the fact that we are in a democratic dispensation. My first goal is to carry-along all stakeholders and ensure that whatever decisions and policies that we will recommend to CIPPON Council will be broad-based and all inclusive.
WITH ISSUES SUCH AS LACK OF STANDARDISATION, LACK OF INTEGRITY, MULTIPLE TAXATION, INADEQUATE TRAINING, FUNDING AND THE LIKES IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT WILL BE YOUR COMMITTEE’S MAJOR TASK?
Our major task will be to put in place a structured framework in terms of standard operating procedures that make all stakeholders in the cluster to have a level playing field. After this, we will look at all the myriads of issues confronting this sector of our industry including the ones you mentioned in your question.
HEIDELBERG HAS SEEN IT ALL IN THE INDUSTRY NOT JUST AS A MAJOR PLAYER BUT AS BRIDGE-BUILDER, HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY WITH THE PRESENT CIPPON LEADERSHIP?
Well for the records, Heidelberg Nigeria LTD is the initiator of the Charter status of CIPPON. So being the midwife of the Institute, we are ever ready to support the Institute to the best of our ability. The present leadership of CIPPON has started well and with the caliber of the team, I believe they will take the industry to a greater height. The industry is going through very turbulent times; therefore, all hands must be on deck to take the industry to the next level.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS NO DOUBT CHANGED THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS WITH GRAVE EFFECT ON SOME SECTORS IN THE INDUSTRY; WHICH AREA(S) WILL YOU RECOMMEND THAT STAKEHOLDERS LOOK INTO FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES?
In these trying times for the industry and our economy in general, the first thing any business must do is develop and adopt a sustainability strategy. As you are aware, our industry is very broad with many sectors like commercial printing, publishing (books production), specialty printing, packaging to name but a few. So, to answer your question straight, if an investor seeks my advice, I will recommend packaging subject to the investment portfolio of the promoter(s).
THERE ARE SUBSTANDARD PRINTING PRODUCTS IN THE COUNTRY, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET ONLY QUALITY PRINT PRODUCTS THAT HEIDELBERG IS KNOWN FOR?
Standardization and quality are the hallmark of Heidelberg business ethics. We will rather not be in business than to compromise these two things. We believe in selling premium products and at pocket friendly prices. This is our social/economic contract with our customers. Come rain, come sunshine, this is our pledge to our customers – quality equipment, spare parts, consumable and customer support (service).
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(c) Heidelberg.com
ASIDE BEING THE LOCAL OFFICE FOR ALL THAT PERTAINS TO THE LEGENDARY HEIDELBERG MACHINES, WHAT ARE THE OTHER PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FROM HEIDELBERG NIGERIA THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PRINT & ALLIED MARKETS?
As global market leader in the industry, we are miles away from our nearest competitor in terms of research and development – so we cover the needs of the industry no matter the scope of operation that the stakeholders find themselves. We have equipment like the Supraseter Computer to Plate (CTP) system, Versafire digital machines and our legendary Speedmaster series printing presses for all levels of operators – small scale, medium or large-scale printing concerns.
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(c) Heidelberg.com
WE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION OF THINGS IN THE COUNTRY AS REGARDS LOCKDOWN AND RESTRICTIONS, HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR CUSTOMERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY GET THEIR CONSUMABLES OR MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS AT WHEN DUE?
You know the essential roles of printing in the scheme of things in any economy – Printing is oxygen to the economy at all times. Upholding our mandate of making sure that the industry is not grounded, we ensured that during the lockdown, all our customers especially those performing essential services such as newspaper houses, packaging printers get consumables, spare parts and service during the lockdown period even to the present moment. While we were working from home, our supply chain was on red alert to support our customers whenever the need arises. For those outside Lagos, we were able to offer them remote services through telephones and courier service deliveries.
IN RELATION TO COVID-19, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH HEALTH ISSUE CONCERNING HANDLING AND USE OF YOUR PRODUCTS?
Even before COVID-19, we were the only company that had put in place some health protocols such as washing of hands, and temperature checking before you access our office. With the advent of COVID-19, we just upped our game, our environment, people, and products are well sanitized to keep our customers safe and healthy.
THERE ARE SERIES OF PALLIATIVES BY GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19, WHAT DO YOU THINK PRINTERS SHOULD DO TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY ACCESS THESE FACILITIES BUT AT THE MOST CONSIDERATE RATE?
Printers are part of the frontline service providers serving the nation in this crisis period but because our government does not understand the critical roles we play, we are often neglected. We deserved to benefit from any largesse that the government is making available to citizenry and businesses. However, for printers to take their fair share, they must make themselves visible and audible by organizing themselves into a formidable group – and this is where CIPPON comes handy as the veritable vehicle to achieve this goal for the industry.
AS FALLOUT FROM THE ABOVE QUESTION, IS HEIDELBERG INVOLVE (WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS) IN NOT JUST COVID-19 LOAN BUT ACCESSING THE RIGHT FACILITY FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITIES?
We are not a financial institution but an equipment manufacturer/ seller. However, for our customers who have funding issues; we have local and international equipment financing partners who can support our customers whenever the need arises. We offer advisory service to clients in terms of sources of funding and appropriate structures suitable to our operating environment. We have seen some companies that went belly-up due to wrong advice they got in respect of equipment funding.
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IT CAN BE CHALLENGING DOING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA EVEN BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE THAT IS THINKING OF PULLING OUT OF PRINTING BUSINESS DUE TO LOW PATRONAGE?
Printing is and will always remain a profitable venture. Quitting is not an option to any serious player in the industry. Low patronage calls for business review and adoption of new strategies, or even re-inventing the business by taking a critical look at the business model and making the necessary changes to reposition the business.
AS ONE OF THE TOP STAKEHOLDERS IN THE INDUSTRY THE WORLD-OVER, HEIDELBERG UNFORTUNATELY WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING AT THE WORLD NUMBER ONE PRINTING EVENT – DRUPA NEXT YEAR; HOW WILL YOU BE CONNECTING WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS DURING THAT TIME ESPECIALLY FOR NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES?
As a company, we believe in excellence and drupa happens to be a global event where we showcase our technological leadership in terms of our products and services. Since the cancellation of the June 2020 event, the April 2021 is a probability and we cannot hang the hope and trusts of our numerous customers in a balance hence we chose to opt out of the next year’s event. Participation in next year’s drupa trade fair was cancelled due to unforeseeable effects of COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, drupa will be a very different event – global travel restrictions and hygiene regulations mean significantly fewer visitors and constraints on communication. Traditional international trade fairs with busy booths and halls will very probably be difficult to implement and will likely lose their status as global meet-up events for customers and manufacturers. As a longtime partner to drupa, Heidelberg will be happy to continue to offer its experience when it comes to bringing future trade fair concepts into line with new digital possibilities and requirements. However, we have lined up series of open houses and equipment demonstrations in our factory in Germany, USA, Japan, Brazil and other Heidelberg facilities, and also through virtual exhibitions and products presentations.
BRIEFLY LET US KNOW THE PLANS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS AFTER COVID-19 ESPECIALLY AS REGARDS TRAININGS, SEMINARS OR WORKSHOPS THAT HEIDELBERG IS KNOWN FOR?
We are very vocal in talking about trainings, workshops and seminars. From our experience, when it comes to attendance it is very difficult for our stakeholders to walk the talk. However, this attitude has not dampened our spirit and zeal to educate and inform our industry about the latest technologies and trends in the industry. As usual, we will continue our quarterly seminars; periodic bringing in of expert trainers from overseas and collaborations with other training facilities to put our local experts to optimum use.
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WHAT ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO PRINT & ALLIED STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR BUSINESSES?
This is a time for sober reflections; it is time for businesses to strategize to ensure the sustainability and profitability if possible. First, we have to be alive, think of the welfare of our workers and suppliers before we think about making profit.
FINALLY, WE KNOW PRINTING CAN BE HIGHLY DEMANDING AND STRESSFUL BUSINESS, HOW DO YOU RELAX?
All work and no play make “Godwin” a dull boy. I work hard and also play hard – I play tennis and hangout with family and friends whenever time permits.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR.
