By Rukayat Moisemhe
FAE Ltd., a leading name in envelope manufacturing and paper packaging, has launched an eco-friendly copier paper brand, “Ecofine”, to preserve the environment, promote sustainability and strengthen Nigeria’s paper industry.
The Chief Executive Officer, FAE Ltd., Mrs Layo Bakare-Okeowo, made this known on Thursday in Lagos at an event to commemorate the 2026 World Envelope Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event celebrated annually on April 16 highlights the paper industry’s economic impact and the critical role of physical documents in communication.
Bakare-Okeowo said the eco fine paper was designed to meet global environmental standards, prevent jamming in machines and capable of delivering sharp print quality delivering high performance.
She said Ecofine copier paper was environmentally friendly, produced to prevent jamming in machines and capable of delivering sharp print quality.
“The idea is that we must keep the environment healthy. That is why we are introducing eco-friendly paper. We are listening to global concerns about sustainability and doing our part,” she said.
She added that the company remained committed to supporting local production and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported paper products.
According to her, Nigeria’s paper industry holds significant economic potential but remains underdeveloped, with only a few functional paper mills despite the country’s large population.
Bakare-Okeowo said countries such as Egypt had far more paper mills, stressing the need for increased investment in the sector.
“Paper production is a gold mine. A tonne of paper is about 1,300 dollars. Nigeria has the capacity not only to meet local demand but also to export to other countries,” she said.
Bakare-Okeowo urged stakeholders and government to support policies that would revive dormant paper mills and encourage new investments.
She also cautioned against the growing push for a completely paperless society, noting that paper products remained essential for communication, documentation and inclusion, especially in rural areas.
“Even in developed countries, envelopes and paper are still widely used alongside digital systems. We should not kill the paper industry in Nigeria,” she said.
Also speaking, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Leye Kupoluyi, described the paper industry as a multi-billion naira sector requiring urgent attention.
Kupoluyi said the sector had witnessed a decline over the decades and called for renewed focus to reposition it for growth.
“Paper remains very important across sectors, from education to manufacturing and services. We need to improve the industry to support economic activities,” he said.
He noted that envelopes and paper products continued to play a critical role in business operations, including documentation, correspondence and value storage.
Kupoluyi added that strengthening the paper industry would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic development. (NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
