Dike Onwuamaeze
The federal government has been called upon to establish a paper research institute that would enable Nigeria to harness potential in the paper industry and diversify its sources of foreign exchange.
The call was made recently by the Managing Director/CEO of FAE Limited, Mrs. Funlayo Bakere-Okeowo, during a press conference to mark FAE’s 50th anniversary.
Bakere-Okeowo argued that a paper institute would enable Nigeria to resuscitate its dying paper industry, especially moribund paper mills in the country, and reposition the industry to become next to crude oil in earning foreign exchange.
She said: “We need a lot of encouragement in research, which could be realised by creating a paper research institute. We know that we have the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) that is doing its best, but we need a paper institute for the paper industry alone because paper has potential to become Nigeria’s ‘second oil.’
“A ton of paper now is about $1,350 in the international market. Imagine that we are able to export finished paper or even pulp?
“The greatest contributor to the GDP in the Scandinavia is paper and pulp. So we do not have to continue running after oil.” She also called on the government to provide single digit credit and stable foreign exchange rate to manufacturers.
Bakere-Okeowo noted that the FAE was established in 1974 by her mother, Mrs. Florence Iyabode Adu Bakare, as a paper trading company, but has emerged as one of the foremost envelope manufacturing company in Nigeria, with capacity to produce one million envelopes per day.
“Initially the company was only in the business of selling paper until it evolved into other areas of the paper sector, especially the manufacturing of paper products such as envelopes.
“First, on the list of our products is our tamper proof and tear resistant envelopes. This envelope is tear resistant and has an indicator at the tip that is inscribed ‘opened’ once it is tampered with. This envelope can be used by electoral and examination bodies and others.
“We also have a Radio Frequency Identification Blocking Envelopes (RFID) that secures your credit or debit card from hackers who can read your card meters away.
“Today, FAE is the leading envelope manufacturing, customising, supplying and producing company in Nigeria with presence in West African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Liberia, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, The Gambia, Mauritania, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.”
