From the first half of the 19th century when the publishing of magazines was introduced in Nigeria, the focus was on religious, politics, and current affairs. But specialized magazines began to spring up in different sectors of the economy and the printing industry was not left out of this development. This gave birth to PRINTING NEWS in 1994 – the first printing journal for the Nigerian printing industry.
Printing News magazine – a bi-monthly magazine is published by Mr. Tony Akinsoyinu and it became the first source of news for the Nigerian printing industry in the early 90s. The publisher of printing news started this publication as a passionate journalist who saw the vacuum in the news gathering and dissemination sector and became a rallying point for the sector in terms of happenings in the industry. In the year 2000, the sector witnessed the birth of another printing journal – Printers Digest magazine. This time, a full-colour B2B printing journal published by DCS Integrated Media Limited, a foremost media, marketing, event organizer, and consulting firm in the Nigerian printing industry. Printers Digest Magazine brought a revolution into the Nigerian printing industry with its full-colour publication.
In an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of DCS Integrated Media Limited and the Editor-in-Chief of Printers Digest magazine, Pastor Tunde Obokhai, when asked about the idea behind the birth of the magazine, he said: “In 1994, I was involved in the sales and servicing of Japan made Ryobi printing equipment and that got me fully involved with the Nigeria printing industry.
During the course of introducing this product to potential buyers in the industry, I realized that a lot of them did not have the relevant information to influence a good buying decision, that was where the idea of coming up with the publication to educate printers about printing processes and printing machines began to be impressed in my spirit.
So, I scanned around the industry for any existing print publication and I found one magazine – called “Printing News” I invited the publisher of that magazine over to my office and we had a chat, I was to advertise my products in his magazine but I realized that the quality of the magazine itself does not represent printing from my own perspective. He told me about his struggle to get printers to patronize the magazine and I told myself why don’t I start mine as a way of using it to create more awareness and educate printers so that when I go out to sell machines, they will have some basic knowledge that will help to influence their buying decisions and that gave birth to Printers Digest magazine in the year 2000. He said.
According to Pastor Obokhai, in 1999, he proceeded to set up his own company DCS Integrated Media – a management, marketing, and consultancy company for the Nigeria printing industry after breaking up with his partners at Civiletis Nigeria Ltd., the authorized representative for Ryobi printing machines in Nigeria. To avoid conflict with his partners he went ahead to publish a B2B journal for the Nigeria printing industry. This gave birth to Nigeria’s foremost print journal.
Printers Digest in pursuant to his desire to feel the inherent gap in the printing industry in terms of the necessary education of major stakeholders when it comes to the right buying decision and acquiring the best print solutions for the pursuant of their businesses. To achieve this, pastor Obokhai said he put together a print journal that was designed to meet the needs of stakeholders in the industry.
In his words “When I broke up with my partners in the sales of printing machines. I told myself I wasn’t going to continue selling machines until I was sure that printers were educated enough to make the right choices when acquiring print solutions for their business, So I began to think within my mind, about what will be the best education platform for the Nigerian printing industry? So, I came up with Printers Digest magazine. I felt a digest itself will be more educating. Something printers can pick up and get adequate information and knowledge about printing technology and solutions.
The decision was influenced by the fact that a lot of print shop owners were not professional printers in the industry and most of them did not have a lot of knowledge of printing technology. At that time when you encounter an average operator in the industry and ask him or her what a cutting machine is, he or she will not comprehend what you are talking about except if you mention a brand like polar Mohr, then the printing process was closely related to brands. For example, a larger offset press was known as Kord 64, a small press was known as Geistetner, etc. As I began to conceptualize this publication, I also thought that an all-colour printing journal will better represent the industry”. In the year 2000, Printers Digest – a full-colour magazine was introduced into the market”.
According to the publisher of Printers Digest, producing the first edition was not an as easy one, because at that time there were many shortcomings in the production of quality colour prints in Nigeria, in fact, a lot of people thought it won’t be possible to produce such a magazine. But the pioneering team at DCS Integrated succumbed these challenges and in April 2000 the first edition of Printers Digest was published.
Today, looking back, it is noteworthy that the introduction of Printers Digest brought a revolution in the industry in the area of publication of B2B journals, because, through Printers Digest magazine tutelage, about four other printing journals have been birthed in this sector, and am happy that despite several challenges, Printers Digest magazine has stood the test of time to remain number one all these years”. According to erstwhile editors of Printers Digest magazine, Adewale Oyebolu, when interviewed on the journey so far as someone who went through the magazine during its formative years, he said: “Design Concept and systems publisher of Printers Digest literarily revolutionized the printing industry in Nigeria.
In order words, modern printing styles were birthed with the advent of activities of DCS evident in the regular publication of modern printing research in the Printers Digest. As the pioneer magazine for the modern printing services in Nigeria, it became clear that the trajectory of the printing sector is swinging in the positive direction as lots of activities done by Design concepts and systems through its regular publication of Printers Digest made the printing business look lucrative and worth investing in”. Oyebolu said.
In addition, the president of Super Grafix Nigeria limited, Godwin Tor described the B2B Journal thus: “Printers Digest magazine has defined printing in Nigeria by forming a common front for printers, manufacturers, print consumers, etc. I have personally been influenced by the Printers Digest through the day-to-day updates on local and international print industries. Moreso, bridging the gaps between owners of print shops and materials sellers” He stated. Eight years later, another printing journal – WHERE To Print magazine made its debut in the industry.
The publisher Mr. Joju Adekanbi who was the editor of Printers Digest magazine before his resignation from the company flagged off his publication in the sector, another printing journal for the relish of the industry. In the Year 2013, the industry welcomed another printing journal – Print Trends magazine published by Jimoh Lateef, another staff who went through the tutelage of Printers Digest Magazine and after that, the industry welcomed Print Buyers Guide magazine and Print Express newsprint from the formal staff of DCS Integrated Media, no wonder the publisher of Where to Print magazine, Joju Adekanbi described DCS as a labour room where other printing journals in Nigeria was birthed.
Truth be told, the impact these print journals have made on the growth and development printing industry cannot be overemphasized. PRINTING NEWS for example has been at the forefront of reporting current and up-to-date local events in the industry, while WHERE TO PRINT leads others in reporting many overseas print events like conferences and exhibitions thereby creating opportunities to visit these events And for PRINTERS DIGEST, it’s editorial content in educating and informing stakeholders in the Nigeria printing industry with the aim of building their capacity to manage their print business and influence appropriate buying decision where necessary is second to none.
We believe that these journals have a place in the industry, but they need to be more professionally packed and delivered to the target audience.
