In an effort to address increasing pressures on Nigeria’s printing sector, including high production costs, ageing machinery, and growing foreign support, the Printing, Publishing and Allied Group (PPA) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) will host a high-level stakeholder seminar on Wednesday, 5th November, titled “Nigeria’s Printing Industry: Unlocking Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges.” The event will take place at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall, Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Nigeria’s printing industry is facing steep production costs, ageing machinery, and an increasing shift of local patronage to foreign markets, raising concerns among operators who warn that the sector is edging toward systemic collapse.
The forum is expected to bring together printers, policymakers, financiers, academics, and regulators to explore policy reforms, local capacity expansion and new financing models capable of stabilising the value chain.
Speaking ahead of the seminar, Chairman of the PPA Group, Mr. Gabriel Okonkwo, decried the growing outsourcing of print jobs to foreign companies, warning that the trend undermines the country’s economy.
“Despite our wealth of talent and equipment, much of Nigeria’s printing demand is outsourced abroad,” he said. “Every job printed overseas means lost jobs, lost income, and lost opportunities here at home.”
The programme will include presentations on the current state of the industry, financing challenges, and policy gaps hindering local production. Chairman/CEO of Yaliam Press Limited, Alhaji Yahaya Amfani, will deliver the keynote address, while Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, is scheduled as the Special Guest Speaker. President of the LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, and Managing Director of FAE Limited, Princess Bakare Okeowo, are also expected to speak.
A panel session titled “Unlocking Nigeria’s Printing and Publishing Potential: Policy Pathways and Financial Solutions” will gather key voices, including the General Manager, Lagos State Printing Corporation, Hon. Kolawole Peregrino; Managing Director, Academy Press Plc, Mr. Olugbenga Oladipo; Managing Director, AFKAR Printing, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Adesola Falaiye; Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Olasupo Olusi; and Managing Director, Sterling Books Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Folashade Shinkaye. The session will be moderated by the former president of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), Mr. Oluwagbemi Malomo.
Organisers state that the forum will go beyond mere conversation. Outcomes are anticipated to include a position paper for government engagement, a directory of local printers, and recommendations on policy incentives that could encourage domestic investment. Delegates will also consider strategies to revive dormant paper mills, expand export capacity, and develop financing models such as equipment leasing and risk-sharing facilities.
The event will host an exhibition of print and publishing innovations, an interactive audience session and an awards ceremony recognising excellence in the sector.
Okonkwo emphasised that keeping print jobs within Nigerian borders could save foreign exchange and create employment opportunities. “If we can print books, packaging, and government documents locally, we’ll not only save foreign exchange but also create thousands of jobs across the value chain,” he added.
The seminar is supported by corporate partners and members of the PPA Group. It is positioned as a rallying call to preserve skill, value creation, and industrial competitiveness within the local market.
