The Kaduna Master Printers' Association raised the alarm over ongoing electricity shortages during its 2025 Annual General Meeting and the investiture of a new chairman in Kaduna. Outgoing chairman Bello Ibrahim Ademola warned that an unstable power supply was among the most urgent problems confronting members, adding that the expense of backup generators and the rising price of printing inputs had sharply lifted production costs and squeezed profit margins. "Power supply remains a critical issue for our members, forcing many to rely on expensive alternatives, which continue to affect business sustainability," he said. Ademola also cited competition from informal operators and a gradual move toward digital printing as additional pressures, while noting the association's recent gains in internal collaboration, professional standards and advocacy. Secretary‑general David Okaja echoed concerns about escalating operational costs, broader economic constraints and delays in planned welfare projects. Newly elected chairman Timothy Ayo Ojo pledged to deepen partnerships, improve service delivery, tackle insecurity affecting business activities and engage relevant stakeholders to secure the sector's growth. The gathering brought together printers, industry players and invited guests to chart the profession's path amid prevailing economic challenges.
Timothy Ayo Ojo's promise to forge new partnerships arrives at a moment when power unreliability threatens the very viability of Kaduna's printing firms. By foregrounding collaboration with stakeholders, Ojo signals a shift from isolated coping strategies to collective problem‑solving.
The association's warnings reflect a broader strain on small‑scale manufacturers: unreliable electricity forces reliance on costly generators, while soaring prices for inks and paper erode margins. Competition from informal printers and the rise of digital formats compound the pressure, leaving traditional shops vulnerable.
For the many workers and small‑business owners dependent on the printing trade, prolonged power outages could translate into reduced wages, layoffs or even closures, tightening the supply of printed media and advertising material in the region.
Ojo's focus on partnership mirrors a growing trend among Nigerian trade groups to seek joint solutions with utilities, financiers and technology providers, hoping to offset systemic infrastructure deficits that have long hampered sectoral growth.
