The medium and large-scale printing companies in Nigeria have expressed their profound gratitude to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for offering them the privilege of printing all electoral materials Locally for the just concluded 2023 General Election.
In a letter today, 4th August 2023 to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, signed by the Chairman, of the Nigeria Medium and Large-Scale Printers League and its Secretary, Yahaya Amfani and Ademola Kasumu said the opportunity was a historic national exercise as it brought honor and a rear privilege to the locally printing industry to participate in the enormous responsibility of producing election materials for the nation’s democratic process.
“We are immensely proud of the trust that INEC placed in our capabilities and expertise, and we spared no effort to ensure that each material was printed with the utmost precision, quality, and security. “Throughout the project, our teams worked tirelessly to meet strict timelines and for the first time in the history of conducting elections in Nigeria, there was no reason to postpone the 2023 General Election due to unavailability of electoral material.
“Working on this project has been a significant milestone for the local print industry in Nigeria. It has provided an opportunity to showcase our advanced technologies and dedicated workforce. This was a game-changer as this is the first time INEC is entrusting the local print industry with the responsibility of printing all materials for conducting the 2023 General Election because electoral materials were mostly printed overseas before now. “Thereby saving billions of Naira back into the Nigerian economy.
Through the just concluded 2023 General Election, the local print industry successfully produced tons of paper print, with several millions of ballots. This is a remarkable milestone that has bolstered our confidence in our capabilities to render similar services to ECOWAS nations and other African countries.
“By entrusting the local print industry with the printing of all electoral materials, INEC not only promoted the growth and development of the printing industry but also indirectly supported a multitude of local businesses across various sectors.”
The letter further highlights that the responsibility has enhanced the nation’s workforce through direct employment, thereby reducing the high rates of unemployed youths in the country.
“Throughout the printing process, our commitment to using local resources and services led to the direct employment of Thousands of skilled workers. Additionally, the ripple effect of this project extended to the wider community, as Thousands of individuals, including vendors, artisans, transporters, food sellers, and many others, found employment opportunities as a result of the activities carried out by the local print industry.”
It therefore called for continuous engagement by the government and other agencies to patronize local service providers to reinvigorate the Nigerian Economy.
“This strategic decision not only ensures the utilization of local resources and expertise but also significantly reduces capital flight, benefiting our nation’s economy and contributing to sustainable economic development. The letter ended with a call for all to emulate the INEC towards promoting local printers in the country.
