History of printing in Nigeria

How Printing came to Nigeria, its Position and Development before the Printers Act

Printing was brought to Nigeria, through Calabar (Cross River State) in 1846 by Mr. Hope Waddel and Mr. Samuel Edgerly. They established a press by the name of HOPE WADDEL PRESS in Calabar.

Another Press was established in Abeokuta (Ogun State) in 1854 by Rev. Henry Townsend. The press was named after him, REVEREND HENRY TOWNSEND PRESS.

The composition of metal types into forms were done either by hand (Hand Composition) or monoytype and lino-type, while the proofing of composed metal forms were done on either letterpress pedaling machines or electric driven platen machines, vandercook Repro Press or the Milles Press.

During this period, the practice of printing was carried out by trained Printers only. The common problem by then was the monopoly of printing jobs by some letterpress printers.

In the early seventies, IBM Composing machines were brought to Nigeria for typesetting. This made the population of Graphic Artists in Nigeria to be on the increase, while the professional activities of letterpress printers were reduced drastically. That was the time Printers in Nigeria were suppose to have started seeking for an enabling law to regulate the practice of printing.

The introduction of the compugraphic machines and computer into the process of printing was to enhance its reproduction, but due to lack of a regulatory law, as to who should be allowed to practice printing in Nigeria, the advantage of computer to enhance the production of printing was turned upside down and became a license for quacks to rule the world of printing in Nigeria.

A Bill, requesting for a regulatory body was initiated and forwarded to the National Assembly of Nigeria in the year 2003 by the Association of Professional Printers of Nigeria (ASSPPON).

The Bill was approved by the Senate on 23rd May, 2007, and was signed into an Act in July 30th 2007 law by His Excellency, the President and Commander – in- Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Umaru Musa Yar – Adua (GCFR) in the name of CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL PRINTERS OF NIGERIA (CIPPON).

The inauguration of council members and the election of principal officers took place at the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, National Press Centre,, Radio House, Abuja in March 11th, 2008. It was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Hon John Ogar Odey.

The first Council meeting after the inauguration was held on the 22nd April 2008 at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. The meeting was presided over by Mr.Wahab Aderemi Muhammed Lawal, the first President and Chairman – in – Council of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON).

Dated April 24, 2008.