Chairman of Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria [ASSPPON] Mokola, Ibadan and Principal Consultant at De-Infinity Vision Press – Mr. Wole Ademuyiwa has called on the government to pry into the printing industry when looking at areas of diversification of the Nigerian economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue.
As an industry that has proven over the years to be one of the highest employers of labour in the country, Ademuyiwa believes the Printing Industry in Nigeria is not receiving due attention it deserves from the Nigerian Government especially in the areas of power generation and supply and dedicated credit facility to printers. “The erratic power supply is affecting the industry in no small measure. When the issue of power is taken care of, the multiplier effect of this will be felt by the entire economy. And if government had believed in this industry; they would have encouraged banks to issue out loans to printers at affordable single interest rate” opined the ASSPPON boss.
Speaking further, he berates the current economic situation in the country which is having an adverse effect on printers in Mokola in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital as prices of print materials and consumables have doubled and regrettably such materials are not uniformed in all States of the Federation. “The paper you buy in Lagos for N10 when it gets to Ibadan, it is sold for N15. Looking at the huge margin, we have no choice but to adjust our prices as this is a general market that everyone patronizes. So it all boils down to how best you can defend your job and integrity”.
He however advised Print Professionals to continually update their knowledge in the profession, “there is no limit to acquiring knowledge because we get to see innovations practically every day. Things are evolving and changing according to time. We should also be willing to take up challenges that add values to our lives, businesses and the community at large”, he urged.
