Nestled in the ancient city of Ibadan the capital of Oyo State located in south-western Nigeria, Polaris Doxa Printery mission is to provide clientele-focused, relevant quality assured products and services in Nigeria and beyond, efficiently and effectively, leaving all stakeholders satisfied. In this SPECIAL FEATURE INTERVIEW with Pastor Olajide Aderinto, the General Manager, WHERE To Print gathers that Polaris Doxa Printery is also intentionally set up as a versatile and innovative print business premised on goodwill that expand opportunities. Find out more in excerpt below:
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION AT POLARIS DOXA PRINTERY – HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEING, COMING FROM A FAITH-BASED ESTABLISHMENT TO A SECULAR ONE?
Thank you very much. It’s being an adventurous and interesting journey for me leading two faith-based printing and publishing organizations before joining Polaris Doxa Printery. All I will say is that, it is God working out His will for my life. I had thought of ending my career in the Printing Industry and face the ministry squarely but God kept saying to me that it isn’t time yet that He still has assignments for me to accomplish in the Printing Industry. And here am I today, heading another printing press after my exit from Dominion Publishing House (DPH), Ota Ogun State.
POLARIS DOXA PRINTERY HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER A DECADE; HOW HAS THE BUSINESS FAIRED?
Yes, the organization has been in existence for such a longer period, operating in a lower capacity but recently, the Group Managing Director of the company took the bull by the horn to turn around the fortune of the company with investment running into billions of naira to acquire state-of-the-art printing facilities and built an ultra-modern printing factory in Jericho, Onireke Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where the company is located. This makes the company to be one of the best and well-equipped presses in Nigeria today. With the new investment into the press, the company is highly sought-after by print buyers within the private and public sectors.
WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF STRENGTH OF POLARIS DOXA PRINTERY IN TERMS OF CAPACITY AND JOB DELIVERY?
Polaris Doxa Printery is well equipped to handle any type of printing job ranging from full process colour printing to any complex spot colour production. We handle all kinds of security and non-security jobs. The press is also an expert as far as mono or process colour book production is concerned. We have installed (in the press) a complete book production line from origination to bindery. This is made possible by our four colour A1 and A2 Komori machines, 2-Tower 4-colour Ecoline web press, MBO folding machines, 24-Station Muller Martini binding machine to mention but a few. Timely delivery of all printing jobs at the shortest possible time is our priority at Polaris Doxa. No downtime at all with our fully installed standby 500KVA and 200KVA Generators.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN PRINT BUSINESS TODAY AND HOW BEST DO YOU THINK PRINT BUSINESS MANAGERS CAN DEAL WITH THEM TO ENSURE BUSINESS PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY?
Our challenges in the print business today are enormous and cannot be over emphasized. We have always talked about the challenge of buying prints abroad which is one of the factors affecting the development of the local Printing Industry. That is why I am also a strong advocate of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) campaign that Nigerian print jobs should remain and be produced in Nigeria. This I believe will help us save and conserve our foreign reserves and create jobs for the local Printers. With the recent foreign exchange (FOREX) challenges and scarcity of Dollars, the trend of foreign printing is gradually reducing. Let me reiterate here that Polaris Doxa has also enhanced its capacity to help solve this challenge.
Another challenge bedeviling the Printing Industry that quickly comes to mind is lack of functioning paper mills for the production of papers and boards which constitutes about 85% of Printers’ raw materials. The Government is yet to wake up to the reality of the enormity of potential revenue it can generate and the FOREX that can be conserved if there are functional paper mills in the country. I learnt that a Chinese company started one paper mill in Ogun State and I was privileged to visit the place. The company lamented that they could not cope with the demand for paper that they already had within few months of operation. I think that – for us as Business Managers, all that we can continue to do is that of advocacy for our Government to do the right thing by providing enabling environment, policies and make the right infrastructural investments for our print businesses to be profitable and sustainable.
WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNT THAT OTHERS CAN ADOPT IN TODAY’S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT?
Within my years of operating in this industry, I have learnt that every enterprise started by anyone, be it a press or other establishment, is a living organism that has the potential to either live or die within the space of time. When an establishment is well managed and run; with the owners doing the right things all the time like exercising financial discipline and commitment to the business growth and sustainability, then the business will live and probably outlived the owner. But when things are done otherwise, the business will surely die within the shortest possible time. I have also learnt to start small and grow big; never to procrastinate what I can do now till tomorrow.
AS A COMPANY THAT BELIEVES IN ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR AND GOOD REPUTATION, HOW DO YOU THINK THESE VIRTUES NOBLE IDEAS CAN EXPAND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES?
Any organization that promotes ethical behaviour and conduct will surely reap its reward. Any staff member that also promote good ethical behaviour and reputation will not be stranded. Someone rightly noted that charisma can only take one to the top, it takes character for one to be sustained there. Business opportunities thrive by way of maintaining a good reputation which reward is referrals and links to bigger businesses and opportunities. Where organizations lack good ethical behaviour or good reputation, they are only digging their early grave.
WHAT WERE THE LOWS AND HIGHS OF LAST YEAR?
The lows of last year for us is the dwindling economic situation in the country that affected some of our prospective jobs and businesses as some of our clients could not fulfil their promise to us in terms of patronage. The highs of it is that despite the lows, we were still able to navigate through the year and make enough margin to sustain our operations.
WHAT GOT YOU THROUGH THE LOWS AND MOTIVATED YOU TO REACH THE HIGHS?
It is our believe-system. We just believe in God that we are able to triumph all our obstacles and weather the storm no matter the odds. Thank God we are not disappointed.
WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?
I am grateful to God that He is a covenant-keeping God. He never disappoints those who trusts in Him. He keeps His promises no matter what happens. He told me that He will make another way when I left the services of DPH, Ota and He did it at His own time.
YOUR BEST THREE TIPS FOR BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY IN THIS ECONOMY?
My first tip for business sustainability in this economy is “Faith”. Believe that all things are possible with God. Believe that you can make it no matter the odds. Believe that your own portion or job cannot be taken over by another. Just keep believing and live by faith. My second tip is “Thanksgiving”. Be grateful and thankful to God for the little He is providing. The Yoruba adage says: ‘a child who is thankful for the blessing of yesterday will receive another one’. Complaints and murmuring close the door of other blessings; so rather than complain, give glory to God. My third tip is “Diligence”. A diligent man will soon stand before Kings and not mere man. This current harsh economy may call for laziness, truancy, indolence, slothfulness etc., but we must be determined not to give up nor be lazy but rather, continue to be diligent. God still rewards hard-work.
ON STAFF RELATIONS; HOW DO YOU THINK MANAGEMENT OUGHT TO DEAL WITH STAFF TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN THEM FOR OVERALL GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUSINESS?
I believe staff should be well taken care of by the management. I am a champion of good welfare for staff in all the organizations that I have led. A well-motivated and well-remunerated staff will not steal. He or she will always be willing and ready to contribute his or her quota to the growth of the organization. So, I always encourage management to give staff good incentives like loan facilities to get a new car or build houses or acquire any desired property, furniture allowances, education allowances and other motivational gifts apart from their regular wages. When targets are set and met, management can encourage staff with small gifts like free lunch or drinks, free airtime etc.
WHAT OLD BUSINESS STRATEGY(IES) DO YOU THINK PRINT & ALLIED PRACTITIONERS SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY NOW TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESSES TO NEXT HIGHER LEVEL?
I think that now, print and allied practitioners should be thinking out of the box and form partnership that works. How do I mean? With the rising daily technological innovation and digital revolution globally, what will be the fate of the Printing Industry in the next twenty-five years? A nation like the United Arab Emirates is already going paperless; what does the future holds for the industry? This is why I said we should start thinking around investment drives in digital print solutions rather than keep celebrating the acquisition of analogue and obsolete print equipment that are being dumped into our country from abroad.
No one is an island by itself. A well-articulated partnership and collaboration among print and allied practitioners can help solve some of the challenges in the industry. So, for instance; I see no reason why print and allied practitioners cannot team up to build and run a functional paper mill in the country or buy over and make functional and profitable – the various moribund government mills in Iwopin and other places. This type to partnership is what we need now.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR AND WILL MOTIVATE YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS TO SUCCEED?
We are excited that some of those who buy print abroad by patronizing foreign Printers are already talking to us for business relationship due to the hike in FOREX and Dollar scarcity. This means that our presses will be busy when the print season starts fully. This will enhance our business success this year because the more customers we are able to serviced, the better for us.
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WHAT NEW HABITS DID YOU START AND ARE WORKING WELL FOR YOU THAT OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM?
I am learning to regulate what I eat now so that I can live healthier. Most of what we eat are the reasons for some of the prevalent sicknesses in our society today. So, I am beginning to cultivate the habit of eating more fruits now and avoid sugary foods.
WHAT ARE THE KEY RELATIONSHIP TIPS (AMONGST ALL STAKEHOLDERS) YOU DISCOVERED THAT YOU KNOW WILL BE VITAL TO BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY?
For me it is TRUST and INTEGRITY. Where these two vital elements are missing in any business relationship, growth and sustainability will be hampered. So, I try as much as possible not to breach the trust reposed on me in my leadership role and in the course of my interaction with others. Then, as much as possible, I want to maintain my integrity in all ramifications and dealings for sustainability and business growth.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOU FROM COMPETITION IN TERMS OF PRODUCT OR SERVICE OFFERINGS?
What distinguishes us from our competitors is our quest to satisfy our customers at our own expense and our state-of-the-art and ultra-modern printing facilities. In Oyo State today and other western region besides Lagos, no press can match our capacity. We pride in the very fact that no customer leaves our press disappointed.
ARE THERE SPECIALS, PROMOS OR DISCOUNTS THAT YOU’RE OFFERING TO YOUR CLIENTS?
Yes, we are currently opening up our operations to the general public for full-blown commercial printing activities. So, we give attractive discounts to customers who bring volume jobs to us. We are also giving out commissions to freelance marketers who bring printing jobs to our press for production. Anyone willing to enjoy any of our discount offerings can talk to us.
WHAT ASSURANCE ARE YOUR GIVING YOUR CUSTOMERS IN 2024 TO GUARANTEE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THEIR NEEDS ANYTIME, ANYDAY?
We are assuring our customers in 2024 that they will never regret doing business with us. Our word is our bond. Once we promise them, we will always go the extra mile to fulfil on our promises, especially to deliver quality print as at when due.
FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN THIS 2024 BUSINESS YEAR?
We are expecting greater collaboration and harmonious business relationship with ALL stakeholders this year 2024. A tree cannot make a forest. We need each other to succeed. Rather than think of us as a competitor who has rebranded and recapitalized to take a lion share of printing jobs in the industry, see us as a complement who has come to relief and renew the printing business with you.
BRIEFLY TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND POLARIS DOXA PRINTERY?
I am Olajide A. Aderinto. I am the General Manager of Polaris Doxa Printery, Ibadan. I am a Pastor and a professionally trained Publisher, Communicator, and Theologian. I am passionate about promoting God’s kingdom through my publishing works of music, games, tracts, books, etc. I was the former General Manager of Baptist Press Nig. LTD, Ibadan and the former Director of Dominion Publishing House, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State. I have more than 15 years of experience in the printing and publishing industries starting off my career as a Lithographer. I have also worked as a Graphic Artist and Production Manager with Lithotec LTD, Punch Newspapers and FCB Impact (Centrespread).
Apart from leading the press, I coordinate the activities of Manifold Grace Outreach International, a non-denominational gospel ministry with the mandate to bring many sons to glory through the proclamation of God’s word. I am also a gospel singer. I have an album titled “Biblyrics” published in 2022 to my credit. I am married with three children.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
You’re always welcome.
