General
SGI Dubai 2017 To Address Printing Industry Needs in Africa
By Dipo Olowookere
International Expo Consults (IEC) has disclosed that the African printing industry stakeholders stand to reap huge benefits by visiting the Sign and Graphic Imaging (SGI) Dubai 2017 trade show.
The event will showcase a plethora of innovative products and services from various exhibitors from across the globe under a unified platform. Every year several trade visitors from Africa benefit from these global innovations in the industry, which they further deploy in their own markets.
SGI Dubai is a key platform where African visitors can reach out to exhibitors who comprise of architects, sign makers, print and production manufacturers, media agencies, real-estate developers, brand and image consultants among others. The show is a globally recognised business forum which entails seminars and workshops led by industry pioneers.
“We are eagerly waiting to welcome the trade visitors from Africa to our show as we have a huge turnaround from the Africa region each year. Thousands of visitors from across 78 countries had turned up for the previous edition and the numbers are expected to spiral in 2017 as well. The African economy is poised to hit a new high and set to grow to the next level. As per our research, there is a tremendous demand for state-of-the-art printing equipment in the growing African markets. A focussed approach from the African print industry can consolidate the sector further and take it to greater heights,” stated Mr Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of IEC.
As per the Smithers Pira report, the total printing revenues in the MENA region were $17.6 billion in 2012, and is forecast to grow to 7.2 percent per annum reaching $26 billion by 2018. Various industry analysts have estimated the printing ink industry in Morocco, Senegal and Ethiopia to grow at about 18.7 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively.
“Experts predict the economic growth of Africa to touch 5% in 2016 from 4.5% in 2015, with the diversification aimed at providing benefits for verticals such as manufacturing and also encourage the adoption of modern technology which includes printing,” added Falaknaz.
IEC is the driving force behind the 19-year old ‘SGI Dubai show’, one of the most awaited exhibitions in the MENA region within the print, signage and imaging industries.
“There is a huge potential in Africa’s printing industry as stakeholders are looking to gradually phase out old equipment to bring in new technology. As per reports cited the economic growth would resist challenges which include plummeting oil prices and uncertain global conditions. Regardless of the economic conditions, increasing competition from digital media, changes in printing processes, and emerging concerns for environmental protection, the printing industry in Africa would grow at a steady pace,” added Mr. Sharif Rahman, CEO of IEC.
Landmark projects within the MENA region are in different stages of construction. This region is the only region in the world that is currently investing billions of dollars in large establishments that includes retail, entertainment and large scale infrastructure. The printing industry will definitely set to benefit from these projects as government initiatives across the region are succeeding in diversification of economies. This is similar to the infrastructure growth that the some of the African markets are witnessing.
SGI Dubai 2017 will focus on digital signage, textile printing, LED, digital printing, screen printing and retail signage industry sectors.
SGI Dubai 2017 is roping in exhibitors and trade visitors across the globe including, Africa, USA, UK, Germany, China and Japan, among others. The industries best kept secrets and trends are set to be unveiled as the 20th edition of the show is touted to receive thousands of visitors from different countries. The SGI Dubai 2017 show would be held at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre from January 15th to 17th 2017 at the halls 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the collapse of five transmission towers along the Ikot Abasi–Eket 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line.
This was attributed to severe acts of vandalism, as TCN disclosed that the structure collapsed after vandals removed critical structural bracing members.
The affected towers were N9, J4, N10, N11 and N12, the organisation said in a statement on Friday.
It explained that the extensive damage was discovered during a routine joint line patrol conducted on August 9, 2026, by TCN linesmen.
Further inspection revealed that structural members from seven additional towers along the same transmission corridor had also been removed and stolen. The towers, J3, N8, N13, N14, N15, N18 and N19, are now structurally compromised and pose a risk of further collapse.
TCN condemned this act of sabotage and reiterated its commitment to working hard to maintain a robust and reliable national grid.
The statement said that to mitigate the impact on electricity supply, the network has been reconfigured to prioritise supply to Ekim transmission station, leaving Ibom Power as the only station without supply.
TCN said it is mobilising an urgent intervention to complete the reconstruction of the affected sections of the line, with security agencies also notified to aid investigations and prevent further acts of vandalism along the line route.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, has urged all relevant government agencies to promptly initiate actions for the full implementation of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, following its signing into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The bill, sponsored by Speaker Abbas, was aimed at repealing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, Cap. N133, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and establish the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency to ensure effective economic regulation of Nigerian ports while safeguarding the interests of shippers, service providers, and users of regulated port services. With the President’s assent, it has now been enacted as an Act of Parliament.
The legislation represents one of the landmark achievements of the 10th National Assembly. It reflects the Speaker’s commitment to legislative excellence, institutional reform, and sustainable economic growth, according to a press statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Mr Musa Krishi.
The bill underwent a rigorous and inclusive legislative process, including extensive stakeholder consultations and a public hearing. It was passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly and subsequently assented to by the President.
The Act provides a robust legal and institutional framework to ensure effective economic regulation of Nigerian ports by fostering transparency, competitiveness, and efficiency in port operations; protecting the rights and interests of shippers, service providers, and other port users; and aligning Nigeria’s port regulatory system with global best practices, thereby enhancing the ease and cost-effectiveness of doing business.
Despite receiving presidential assent, the Act has yet to be fully operationalised.
He warned that any further delay would undermine the legislative intent of the reform, prolong the exposure of port users to arbitrary charges and operational inefficiencies, and deny the nation the anticipated benefits of increased revenue, improved trade facilitation, and stronger investor confidence in the marine and blue economy sector.
The Speaker urged the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government, to take the necessary administrative, institutional, and financial measures for the prompt implementation of the Act.
He said this should include the formal transition to, as well as operational empowerment of, the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency to discharge its statutory mandate effectively.
The full implementation of the Act is critical to unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s ports, reducing the cost of doing business, strengthening trade competitiveness, and positioning Nigeria as the leading maritime and logistics hub in West and Central Africa.
The statement noted that the Speaker reaffirmed the 10th House’s commitment to exercising the necessary legislative oversight to ensure this landmark legislation, along with others assented to by the President, is fully implemented and achieves its intended goals for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), has partnered with Cascador, a Nigeria-focused platform for growth-stage founders, to provide funding and support for the next generation of Nigerian youth entrepreneurs.
The announcement coincides with International Youth Day 2026, whose global theme this year — Different Contexts, Common Aspirations — calls on institutions to close the gap between young people’s circumstances and their opportunities. The pilot is an early step toward NiYA’s broader ambition to train and empower 7 million Nigerian youth within two years.
The NiYA and Cascador Founders Programme will begin with a pilot cohort of 20 early-stage Nigerian youth founders, including entrepreneurs without formal business registration or established financial records.
Over four weeks, participants will undergo intensive training focused on business fundamentals, investment readiness and pitch preparation. At the end of the programme, the eight top-performing founders will receive non-dilutive funding of up to N5 million each from Cascador, alongside an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to help them structure, manage and scale their businesses.
The funding and support will be presented at a Pitch Day organised by NiYA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
The Minister for Youth Development, Mr s Ayodele Olawande, said the partnership would enable NiYA to move beyond training by helping young people transform ideas into investable businesses and achieve sustainable economic participation through business preparation and access to capital.
“The pilot is deliberately designed to test a model that can go beyond one cohort. If young founders can be identified early, prepared properly, connected to credible capital and supported to build stronger business systems, then access to opportunity becomes less dependent on background or existing networks. That is the larger objective: to build a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem in which readiness, ideas and execution can increasingly determine who gets the opportunity to grow.”
The pilot will run in-person in Abuja with virtual touchpoints and 1:1 mentorship. All 20 graduates retain NiYA alumni status, with priority consideration for future opportunities.
NiYA and FMYD have already shown what real commitment to Nigeria’s youth looks like — the platforms, the reach, the ambition to train millions. What we’re building together now is the missing piece, a practical bridge from the ideation stage to real capital-readiness. When a Ministry so dedicated to its young people asked Cascador to help build that bridge, it was an easy decision,” said Trish Thomas, CEO of Cascador.
Ms Oyin Solebo, COO of Cascador and former Managing Director of the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, highlighted the partnership’s impact, saying, “This is what innovative capital deployment looks like: a government building real investment readiness at scale, and a partner meeting that foundational work with non-dilutive funding at exactly the moment it’s needed. Partnerships like this open doors that neither of us could open alone.”
