The Vanguard Newspaper : Printing Stakeholders Decry Falling Demand for Offset Printing

Source: Vanguard Newspaper – By Joy Aliyu
Date: 24th August 2025

Printing Stakeholders Decry Falling Demand for Offset Printing

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s printing industry have expressed concern over the declining demand for offset printing, as more adults abandon print publications in favour of digital formats.

They noted that while there is still a significant market for exercise books, particularly among school-age children, offset printing continues to face global and local challenges.

These concerns were raised at the Executive Seminar on Flexographic Printing and Packaging, themed “Unlocking Profitability and Sustainability Through Flexo,” held in Lagos.

Guenter Franz, CEO of VIP-System Group, highlighted the worldwide decline in offset printing orders and the shift in reader behaviour.

“The printing market is still big in Nigeria in regard to offset printing. All over the world, the orders and volumes in offset printing are going down. There is still a huge market in exercise books or school books because kids still use them. But as soon as they get older, they do not want to read books or newspapers. They want to read on the internet with their smartphones. That is a challenge. It is a problem.

That is the reason why we have to find new ways to get the young people attracted to the printing industry. One of the ways we have decided to do that is evaluate the possibilities in packaging. Flexo printing has lots of benefits, including saving costs and green energy ideas.”

Princess Funmilayo Bakare-Okeowo, Managing Director of FAE Limited, described flexo printing as the most effective way for industry players to reduce costs and modernise operations.

“When you talk about printing, a lot of people marvel and ask if people are still into printing with digitalisation. This (flexo printing) is how to stay in business and modernise. With this, those in the industry can cut costs and remain in business. Flexo printing is environmentally friendly. This is the right time for those in the industry to embrace it because it is a cheaper and efficient way to reach their objectives.”

Meanwhile, Olakunle Ogunjobi, Technical Director at Randomsoft Limited, stressed that flexo printing is centred on sustainability and profitability.

“We have looked into the packaging space, and we understand that there are quite a number of technologies that could be used in the area of printing and packaging. We understand the various environmental impacts and different aspects of such.

Most users of this technology are familiar with the offset printing market. The cost of acquiring this advanced analogue flexo printing solution is about 60 per cent of offset printing. What we are introducing for packaging is not as expensive. If they listen to us, they have the right technology in the flexo printing solution.”

The consensus among stakeholders is clear: flexographic printing represents a cost-effective, sustainable pathway for the industry to stay competitive in the face of declining offset demand.