MOVING THE PRINTING INDUSTRY FORWARD

…NEED FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE, FORWARD-LOOKING AND VIRILE REGULATORY BODY

IN THE BEGINNING

Established by Act of Parliament No. 24 of 2007 with the responsibilities of regulating, managing and administration of Printers and for related purpose in Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) first and arguably only 25 Member Interim Council (which observers believe is now a full Council) was inaugurated at the Radio House, Abuja FCT by the Supervising Minister for the industry – former Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. John Ogar Odey.

It was however in 2011 CIPPON Council had its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos with most hitherto inaugurated Council Members duly elected albeit with a change of posts and responsibilities ostensibly shared among members of the three major proponents of CIPPON Charter Status – The Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON), Association of Nigerian Printers (ANP) and Institute of Printers, Nigeria (IOPN).

LIMITED ACTIVITIES

Over the years, CIPPON had limited activities to its credit which include amongst others very few industry-focused training for selected print and allied firms, seminars and workshops in various parts of the country, endorsement of PROPAK West Africa exhibition, clampdown of non printers and unregistered printing houses, and overseas training and collaboration with Printing Industries Federation of South Africa (PIFSA) in Johannesburg, South Africa in cooperation with NUMBERS CMYK LTD publisher of WHERE To Print magazine. However, CIPPON Council’s misgivings from some stakeholders were perceived lack of understanding of the importance of the Charter Status of the Institute coupled with the will to take advantage of the strength of large number of professionals and allied stakeholders in the industry to bargain with government and other institutions to move the industry forward.

#CHANGE CIPPON MOVEMENT

Initiated by young, dynamic and forward-looking print professionals, the hashtag #Change CIPPON seeks to move the industry forward. Significantly, the movement within three months of existence galvanised industry stakeholders across the geo-political and socio-economic genres of the country to register as CIPPON members particularly to vote and be voted for at the forthcoming CIPPON 2018 AGM coming up 15^th March.

ELDERS

With the underground membership drive activities of #Change CIPPON Movement, carefully selected ‘Elders’ in the industry were chosen to meet with present CIPPON Council with a view to first change the date of the proposed AGM forward from hitherto end of 2017 date with assurance that CIPPON Council Members will ensure free and fair election and most importantly, relinquishing of power by CIPPON Council to new, dynamic and forward-looking individuals that could take the industry to the promised land.

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CIPPON 2018 AGM BUILD UP

INAUGURATION & OUTCOME OF 2018 STANDING COMMITTEES

With 2018 CIPPON AGM fixed for Thursday 15^th of march 2018, the Council inaugurated two Standing Committees (CIPPON 2018 AGM ELECTORAL AND SPONSORSHIP REQUEST COMMITTEE) to ensure a truly successful CIPPON AGM that all stakeholders will be proud of. However, all did not go as planned as observers believe that the Committees were not given freehand by the Council to operate.

Stakeholders believe that while the Electoral Committee could not come up with Electoral Guidelines and Membership Lists especially of those qualified to vote and be voted for as stipulated by CIPPON Act, the Council also rejected the venue with some of the sponsorship deals secured by the Sponsorship Request Committee. Even some of the responsibilities of the Sponsorship Request Committee that culminated in the Committee to secure more than half of the about N5million needed for the AGM were taken over by the Council. WHERE To Print further gathered that, that was what made all members of the Sponsorship Request Committee to resign enmasse citing lack of trust and question on the Committee’s integrity.

PRINTERS MEET ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Just as the election date draws near, WHERE To Print reliably gathered that Printers across the country met to ostensibly strategise and possibly elect or choose who they would vote for during the AGM scheduled for Lagos.

ABUJA MEET

Extra Ordinary General Meetings were held by all Practicing Professional Printers in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja at different dates at the popular Sharon Ultimate Hotel in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.

IBADAN PRINTERS

ASSPPON Ibadan, Oyo State Chapter also met at Saki West.

LAGOS PRINTERS MEET

Significantly, Lagos – which spearheads the #Change@CIPPON Movement, had her own caucus meetings that was not made public and agreed to cancel the hitherto Pre-AGM Special and Important Meeting earlier slated to hold on Wednesday 28^th of February 2018 @ Kula Mall (Goshen Printmedia LTD), 18/21, Adebiaye Street, Behind Tejuosho Market, Surulere, Lagos. Proponents of #Change@CIPPON adduced non conformity and endorsement of Mr. Muhammed Lawal’s led Council as the reason for the cancelation of their proposed meeting. WHERE To Print further gathered that the Movement has concluded arrangement to seek legal action on CIPPON Council that has been running the affairs of the Institute since inauguration.

And what possible outcome this legal action will bring? WHERE To Print will keep you posted as event unfolds….