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The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udo has assured the printing community of government intention to reactivate the government printing press, which has gone under extinction.
The Commissioner made this known during a call on him by the executive members of the Association of Professional Printers, Akwa Ibom State (APPA). The Information Boss noted that when the government printing press is put to use with the latest State-of-the-Art machines, which according to him would be in partnership with private sectors, the people of the state will stand to benefit as most of the printing jobs taken to Lagos and other parts of the country would be done in the state, thereby retaining capital flight, “we will do everything possible in partnership with two or more private concern to ensure that the government printing press is reactivated because government cannot do everything. It is heart touching that about 40% to 50% printing jobs in Akwa Ibom State are printed outside the state”, the Commissioner stated.
He identified poor quality of jobs, high cost of printing and late delivery as factors that constitute the problem of printing in the state and charged professional private printers to close rank, form a community of printing and get fields of specialty for effective job delivery, “if you could form a printing village and each of you specializes in a particular field, thereby distributing your printing jobs to each specialist to handle, you will have a good output and you will make a reasonable progress instead of being a Jack of all trades and master of none’”, the Commissioner advised.
The Commissioner also advised the group to put their house in place as the present government led by Deacon Udom Emmanuel is ready to partner any well meaning group to ensure the state is well positioned. He promised that if printing business in the state is well coordination and what he identified to be the bane of printing business in the state is arrested, he could use his goodwill to attract banks and other corporate organizations to print their security documents in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association of Professional Printers, Akwa Ibom State (APPA), Chief Michael Archibong who was flanked by a cross section of his executive thanked the Information Commissioner for the warm reception accorded the group and finding out time to personally receive them in view of his crowded schedule.
The Chairman speech, which was read by the Secretary of the group, Mr. Samuel Edward informed the Commissioner that the Association started in 2008 and today, it has over 5000 registered members across the state. Aimed at promoting standard, quality delivery as well as promoting unity among professional licensed printers, the Chairman noted that the association is poised to partnering with government at all levels to join forces to fight quackery who ventured into printing industry and forge government sensitive documents for pecuniary gains. He explained that in a bid to achieve their set objectives, the body is well structured and registered with relevant bodies, “this organization is a full-fledged member of Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON)”.
The body formally invited the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy to the formal inauguration of the Executive Committee of the Association of Professional Printers, Akwa Ibom State (APPA) scheduled for March 10, 2017 at the Daniel Ekanem Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Information Drive off IBB Way in Uyo.
Present at the visit were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Pastor Praise Okon; Directors in the Ministry including Mr. Inyang Jameson, Mrs. Grace Akpan, Mr. Ini Nkantion and Mrs. Blessing Ufot Urua. A cross section of executive members of the Association of Professional Printers, Akwa Ibom State included Dr. Mike Mbom, Treasurer; Prince Andy Bernard, PRO; Mr. Tony Ukpong, Financial Secretary and Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Etuk, Welfare. Others are Mr. Isangubong Daniel, Auditor; Mr. Billy Matthew, Provost; Evang. Saviour Ekpe, Ex-officio and Elder Bassey Essien, Ex-officio.
