Minister Rallies Printers To End 19-Year Crisis, Back CIPPON Leadership For Industry Rebirth

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ABUJA – Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s printing and packaging industry to close ranks and end nearly two decades of internal disputes, warning that persistent divisions have continued to slow the growth and professional development of the sector.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ gathering of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) in Abuja, the minister urged members of the institute to rally behind the current leadership and seize what he described as a rare opportunity to reposition the industry for national relevance and growth.

Idris said the prolonged crisis within CIPPON had weakened the institute’s ability to effectively advocate for its members and engage government on policies that could strengthen the printing profession.

According to him, no professional body can achieve meaningful progress while consumed by internal battles and prolonged litigation.

“For about 19 years, the institute has been weighed down by petitions, legal disputes and divisions that have slowed its progress. That must change,” the minister said.

He stressed that the printing industry remains too strategic to Nigeria’s economy to be fragmented by personal grievances and leadership tussles.

The minister particularly welcomed the recent court-backed leadership resolution that affirmed the leadership of CIPPON President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Koko T. Clement, describing it as a turning point for reconciliation and institutional rebuilding.

Idris said the court’s decision should not produce winners and losers, but rather create an opportunity for collective progress.

“You may not necessarily agree with a leader, but once due process has been followed, the responsibility of every stakeholder is to support the institution for the greater good,” he said.

He urged Clement and members of the Governing Council to use the mandate entrusted to them to heal divisions and build a stronger, more inclusive institute.

Addressing the newly affirmed leadership, the minister said history would judge them not by the legal victory secured, but by what they do with the opportunity.

“You have won, but the bigger task lies ahead. The real question is whether this period will strengthen CIPPON or deepen old fractures. Your legacy will depend on how well you unite the industry,” he stated.

Idris also pledged continued support from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, assuring the institute of government collaboration in advancing professional standards and industry reforms.

He noted that the ministry remains open to facilitating dialogue among aggrieved stakeholders to resolve lingering disputes.

The minister further emphasised that CIPPON must remain a national professional body rather than a sectional association.

“CIPPON is not for the North or the South. It belongs to Nigeria. It must serve the collective interests of all professionals in the printing value chain,” he added.

Earlier, CIPPON President, Clement, said the institute had recorded notable progress since the inauguration of the current Governing Council in December 2025.

He said the council had intensified engagement with government institutions and industry players to strengthen professional standards, improve regulation and develop policies that would drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s printing industry.

Clement maintained that the institute’s focus remains the advancement of the profession and the protection of practitioners across the printing and packaging ecosystem.

“Everything we do is for the growth of this institute, for the benefit of every printer, every packaging professional, and every Nigerian who depends on this industry,” he said.

He called for peace and mutual understanding among members, stressing that unity remains essential to the institute’s long-term success.

“We call on all stakeholders to work together in peace and mutual understanding so that what unites us remains greater than whatever may divide us,” Clement added.

Also speaking, CIPPON Registrar, Abubakar Ndagi, highlighted the institute’s statutory mandate under Act 24 of 2007, noting that the body was established to regulate and manage professional printing practice in Nigeria.

He said the institute plays a critical role in licensing practitioners, maintaining standards and ensuring professionalism across the sector.

Ndagi appealed for stronger government support in enforcing policies that would ensure only licensed professionals practise within the industry, while also advocating for professional printers to occupy strategic government positions related to printing administration.

The event drew key industry players, including Michael Akinola, Ademola Kasumu, senior ministry officials and other stakeholders in the printing and packaging value chain, all of whom echoed the need for unity, reform and institutional stability within CIPPON.