ABUJA – The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a passionate call for national inclusion, urging stakeholders in the creative and educational sectors to end the systemic “book famine” hindering blind and visually impaired Nigerians.
In a statement marking World Braille Day on January 4, 2026, the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, emphasized that access to knowledge is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. Under the theme “Let the Blind Read,” the Commission highlighted the stark reality facing the visually impaired community in Nigeria.
The Crisis of Inaccessibility
Despite the transformative power of Braille for literacy and dignity, Dr. Asein revealed a troubling statistic: less than one percent of all published materials in Nigeria are currently available in accessible formats, such as Braille, audio, or screen-reader-compatible digital text.
”The cost of inaccessibility is not merely social exclusion,” Dr. Asein warned. “It is long-term harm to education, employment prospects, and the inclusion of the print-disabled in the broader national development agenda.”
A Shift from Charity to Rights
The Director-General noted that Nigeria has moved away from a “charity-based” approach to one rooted in legal rights. This shift is anchored in the Copyright Act, 2022, which domesticated the Marrakesh Treaty.
Section 26 of the Act specifically permits:
• Reproduction and distribution of works in accessible formats.
• Cross-border exchange of Braille and digital materials for the print-disabled.
• Safe-harbour protections for “Authorised Entities” (libraries and NGOs) to produce these materials without fear of litigation.
