INTRODUCTION:
The word “Amalgamation in our context here means “the joining together of two or more organizations to form one large organization” And in our industry with many printing associations real amalgamation has never taken place. However, the establishments have always come together in principle to chart the course for memorandum of understanding, to form a larger professional body for the industry. It is very visible in the industry, from years past, the proliferation of printing associations in the industry through creation of various associations as a result of the evolution of printing phases of development in various parts of the country.
Brief Over View Of The Phases Of Development In The Industry
The remarkable development was also as a result of professionalism in the industry. The printing in industry has a history alongside book publishing industry in Nigeria, from the first printing press, which was established in Calabar by Rev. Hope Waddel and Samuel Eagerly of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Mission, mainly for the Christian lessons which was later used for printing of other educational books for learning different subjects taught to learners in schools, to the acquisitions of modern machineries and improved professionalism of various printing processes still trending.
Consequently, the Nigeria Printing Practice and technique continues to grow remarkably, due to its viability, accounting for establishment of numerous presses all over Nigeria, especially in major cities and in public organizations. This led to the establishment of Professional Associations to serve the special interest of the members and control their professional ethics and practice for profitability and standardization.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
There are many printing associations in Nigeria that sprang up in the early seventies and eighties with bases in main urban centres in the country.
These include:
- Institute of printing, Nigeria branch, (IOPN), an affiliate of Institute of Printing, London.
- Nigeria Institute of Printing (NIOP)
- Association of Nigerian Printers (ANP)
- Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON)
- Society of Printing Practitioners of Nigeria (SPPN)
- Kaduna Master Printers Association of Nigeria (KAMPAN)
- Association of Professional Printers of Abuja (APPA)
- Akwa Ibom Professional Printers Association (APPA)
Some also sprang up in the public service sector namely, National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW), and under the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) known as the Printing, Publishing, Paper Product, Packaging, (five Ps) sector.
All these formations serve the special interest of their various constituencies to foster growth in their local environments activities for the printing industry.
Few notable ones with some branches in some parts of the country with clear cut structures, as defined printing associations, that later influence the coming together – (amalgamation in principle and understanding) to struggle for a national body of professionals in the printing industry include:
- Association of Nigeria Printers (ANP)
- Institute of Printing, Nigeria (IOPN)
- Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON)
Their concerted efforts eventually led to an Act of Parliament for Printers in the National Assembly in 2007.
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PRINTERS – [ANP]
This association was formed by notable individual big names and printing firms [large scale] print professionals who are practicing printing business activities and allied services. The association have branches in many big cities in Nigeria and stand as a very large employers of labour in the printing industry.
SOCIETY OF PRINTING PRATITIONERS OF NIGERIA [SPPN]
This society is an affiliate member of Institution of printing, London. It used to be known as Institute of printing, Nigeria, branch at inception. The Institute later adopted and register as the Society of Printing Practitioners of Nigeria, with branches in most states of the federation. The membership cut across both the public and private sector organizations. It is a society with mostly, formally trained and industry practitioners in the printing industry.
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS PRINTERS OF NIGERIA [ASSPPON] –
This association was formed by print professionals engaged in print business activities, and allied services. Persons working as press owners, apprentices or machine minders [operators]. It is also a large employer of labour in the industry with many cluster groups.
PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE PROLIFERATION OF THE ASSOCIATIONS
Mayor Problems confronting these organizations are therefore lack of national spread, ability to interact with each other for better understanding, lack of organizational structure, some operating like just local unions of craftsmen [groups] or trades associations, infiltration of quacks into the various associations, lack of proper ethics and code of practice and guarded individual interest solely for-profit orientation.
Also, there is no clear cut definition of professionalism as printing practitioners. Such as different from those in the allied trades – equipment manufacturers, materials merchant – (ink, paper, chemicals etc.). There is also no training school for the professionals in the industry. Only few federal and State Technical Colleges and few Higher Institutions offer printing technology up to the HND level. But there is yet to be an effective and industry based training school, like the School of Oceanography, Nitel Training School etc., to train professionals in the printing industry in Nigeria.
AMALGAMATION OF THE VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
An “association” is a Voluntary group of printing professionals with the aim of protecting their individual model of operations and profit making efforts. Because of the numerous problems facing the associations in Nigeria printing industry, the need to amalgamate in thought and direction to form a strong front to evolve one viable professional body began over two decades ago. Of all the major/notable associations, the Association of Nigeria Printers (ANP); Institute of Printing, Nigerian (IOPN) and Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON), realized the need for good understanding and oneness of purpose for the industry and amalgamation steps in principle taken, which later gave birth to the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) proposed private bill. This was well defended by these bodies at the second reading in the National Assembly where the bill was passed and later accented to by President Yaradua on 30th July, 2007. Known as the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria – Act No 24, of 2007, the body was charged with the duty of regulating, controlling, managing and administration of Professional Printers in Nigeria and related purposes.
PROSPECTS IN PROFESSIONALISM AND AMALGAMATION IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY
The Act No 24, of 2007 firstly established printing as one of the recognized professional disciplines in Nigeria. And secondly, It addresses lots of solutions to major challenges facing the divisions in the associations and the weak structures of the various associations existing before the charter
These challenges include
- Provision for membership status/admission guidelines
- Training (i.e establishment of a Professional training school
- Professional ethics
- Issuance of operational license for individuals and corporate printing firms
- Categorization of printing outfits
- Composition of the governing council for the Chartered Institute, involving Government Representatives at State and Federal Levels.
CONCLUSION:
All these provisions are set out in the act to guarantee the best practices in the industry and affords the body to speak to Federal and State Governments with one voice on issues challenging the industry. Including raw material sourcing and production, tariff structure and capital flight of printing jobs etc.
The well-established structure for the institute will enable the practitioners stand out in their field of operation and eradicate quackery.
There will be a clearer knowledge of what professionalism entails and the real meaning and definition of an occupation. These distinguishes bodies like, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and many others in our country Nigeria, as controlling and regulating bodies for their practitioners.
Agwu Sunday B.C, a public affairs analyst stated that “Having a legal status alone does not make an occupation a profession “This means that all the result of amalgamation of associations in principle and the believe on the benefits of the enabling law for the printing industry and the practitioners, will depend on the strict compliance and implementations of the provisions of the Act to the letters, by the leadership/governing Council of CIPPOIN. Little or nothing has been achieved through the Act which was given to the industry since 30th July 2007.
Mr. Adebayo E. O. Fiop, Fsppn, Fcippn
President, Society of Printing
Practitioners of Nigeria
