With the mission to project the Word of God through printing, Alpha Press LTD was born in 1996 and over the past 17 years, the company has recorded tremendous growth culminating with the recent installation of Heidelberg SM 74 5 Colour Press aside other modern printing machines at its disposal. WHERE To Print caught up with Alpha Press CEO – Pastor Omopariola Samuel Odimayo recently at his office and he shares his thought on salient issues in the industry. Excerpt below:
WHAT DOES ALPHA PRESS STAND FOR?
Alpha Press is a printing press that is distinguished in digital colour separation, high definition printing, and publishing. We are also into importation of printing machines and print consultancy. We are committed to giving our clients the best quality of prints at affordable price with the mission to be the biggest printer of the Word of God in Africa and beyond. This is the reason for our motto: ‘Printing and publishing the WORD’. It is our commitment and to this we are dedicated. That is why majority of our job is printing of Christian books, manuals, tracts and other related materials to the body of Christ.
SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY?
I have been in the industry since 1994, it was big news those days that a masters degree holder turned to a printer. My story was even published in a national daily.
HOW DID YOU COME INTO PRINTING BUSINESS?
I actually studied Hydrobiology and Fisheries from University of Ibadan. After my Master Degree in 1986, I worked briefly with the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) as an Industrial Research Assistant but later made a career change into printing, joining my brother who is a printer. I took over the family printing business and later formed Alpha Press Limited in 1996.
HOW HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERINCE SO FAR?
Being a printer has been most interesting, beautiful and a rewarding career. Printing business is lucrative and most engaging. It is a living business.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE ON THE JOB?
The major challenge of any business in Nigeria is lack of infrastructural facilities; the epileptic power supply, unprotective government policies and the financial houses’ reluctance to support small businesses especially printers who have to start with capital intensive machinery.
AMIDST ALL THESE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE DRIVEN MANY OUT OF BUSINESS HOW DID ALPHA PRESS SUSTAIN ITSELF OVER THE YEARS?
I will say it is the Grace of God, determination and focus on our part. You know the popular saying “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. Another thing is to be committed; to your job, custormers, staff, and your bankers as you get along and let nothing rob you of your integrity. Where there are challenges, your team will understand and bear with you, and will also vouch for you because of your honest dealings with them over the years.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
We are planning to expand our press and move to a larger place. Alpha Press today is one stop print solution press. Though we are known for book production but presently we are going into full commercial printing. We will install a book web press and also packaging line.
WHAT ARE THE NEW THINGS ON GROUND FOR YOUR CLIENTS?
We just installed Heidelberg Speed Master 74 5-PH. We are the first to install the machine in Shomolu and its environ. So our clients should expect greater speed and higher quality. This is in addition to our 5 Colour MOFP, 2 Colour MOZP and other single unit machines on ground. We are also very strong in post press equipped with folders, binders and 3-knife trimmers.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON PRINTING OF BOOKS OUTSIDE NIGERIA?
This has been one of the factors that is militating against the printing industry in Nigeria. The reason why government will allow the importation of books that can be printed locally into the country duty free and place heavy tax on printing machines and print consumables are beyond what stakeholders in the industry can fathom. By this policy, local production of books is discouraged while importation is seriously encouraged. It is an irony that Nigeria Government is encouraging foreign investors and not showing visible interest or support to local investors especially the printing industry. Little did the government know that the print industry can create not less than 3 million jobs annually if properly encouraged. To print children’s books in India or Singapore is at about the cost of buying just paper for same in Nigeria. This is why most publishers prefer to print their work abroad because they know that when they bring it in, it will be duty free. Our government should remove the tax on printing machines and print consumables to make the cost of local production competitive and therefore discourage printing abroad. The local printing industry should also be protected by fiscal policies. If fiscal policies can be made to protect vehicles (motorcars) which we cannot manufacture locally, why not books and furniture which we can easily produce hundred percent locally?
I will use this medium to appreciate WHERE To Print magazine’s effort in projecting Nigerian printing industry outside the country. I commend your Team for the big job of projecting Nigeria printing industry abroad. But for the effort of people like you, the Nigeria printing industry would have been swept under the carpet. You have projected our image to the printing community around the world. Today, foreign dealers in printing machines, print consumables and even technicians are paying a lot of attention with regular visits to Nigeria. They have become aware of the potentials of our great industry. I’m proud of the good job that you are doing. It is a big service to Nigeria at large; because printing is key to education, knowledge and socio economic growth. Whoever is projecting the printing industry in Nigeria is promoting the total growth of the nation and her economy.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE INDUSTRY AS REGARDS REGULATING PRINTING ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA?
I will advise the regulatory body to intensify their efforts in the area of certification and training of printers, most especially the machine operators so that they can become true professionals. This will enable them to give the whole of themselves to their jobs as it will boost their self esteem. Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) should come up with different levels of training for both practicing printers and non printers who want to come into the industry. This will definitely go a long way to regulate the industry.
