FG Committed To Growth Of Local Industries –Minister
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has reiterated the commitment of Federal Government to the growth of local industries to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts in order to stimulate the nation’s economy through job creation and conservation of foreign exchange.
The Minister, who said this in Lagos while commissioning some of the equipment procured by Lagos-based printers Academy Press Plc, said the firm showed great confidence in the country’s economy through the investment of N2 billion in acquiring modern equipment within one year.
He expressed delight that the company has continued to grow in leaps and bounds since it commenced production 51 years ago.
“I am happy to learn that unlike some other local organisations, you have sustained your operations for over 50 years. You have not only sustained operations, you have grown with time to a world class printer that is comparable to what is available anywhere else in the world, acquiring and maintaining the best of equipment, boasting of highly-skilled personnel; up to date with modern technology and ensuring that Nigerians get nothing but the best as far as print production is concerned.
”It is also gladdening to learn that you have localised staff and management and you have a structured training system to develop skills for your own use as well as for the use of the industry,” he said.
Mohammed said the government will continue to create the enabling environment for the local industries to thrive and
“On our own part in the current administration, we will continue to formulate policies that will enhance and strengthen these ideals. We will encourage the industry to develop its own support raw materials such as bond, craft paper and newsprint as well as ink and other chemicals.
“We will provide the enabling environment for this and other industries to thrive. It is imperative that Government Agencies patronise our local Industries, and for us to read our own Nigerian-authored books, printed by our own printers. All documents, including security materials, must be printed locally to safe jobs and scarce foreign exchange.
“For the enemies of the industry, the copyright pirates, lovers of foreign products and smugglers of such, it is time they change their ways. This is because this Administration is committed to protecting copyright owners so that they can reap the fruits of their hard work,” he said.
In his address, the Chairman of Academy Press Plc, High Chief Simeon Olusola Oguntimehin, said the company has the capacity to produce 100 million standard books, 24 million magazines and Annual Reports and several million copies of sensitive and confidential print annually.
