NCC reaffirms commitment to accessible knowledge for blind Nigerians

THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has tasked book and education stakeholders to adopt inclusive copyright practices, such as the use of accessible formats, to broaden access to knowledge for blind and visually impaired persons.

Director-General of the Commission, Dr John Asein, called for this in a statement for World Braille Day 2026, marked on January 4. The day highlights Braille as essential for literacy, independence, and dignity for people with visual impairments.

Asein stressed that access to knowledge is a right and that copyright must support people with print disabilities, creators, and markets.

“For centuries, Braille has enabled blind and visually impaired persons to access knowledge, participate meaningfully in education, and live with dignity,” he said. “This year’s focus on inclusion, bridging digital divides, and advancing accessibility in education resonates deeply with the Commission’s long-standing advocacy.”

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Asein raised concerns about Nigeria’s ‘book famine’, stating that studies show that less than one percent of published materials in the country are available in accessible formats such as Braille, audio books, or screen-reader-friendly texts.

He said this gap causes social exclusion and limits education, employment, and participation for people with print disabilities.

Asein stated that the Copyright Act, 2022, focuses on rights-based inclusion instead of charity. Section 26 brings the Marrakesh Treaty into Nigerian law, allowing the reproduction, distribution, and cross-border exchange of accessible-format works for people with print disabilities.

“The Act also provides safe-harbour protections for authorised entities, ensuring that access is enabled lawfully and responsibly, while building trust across the book value chain,” he said.

He said the Commission has issued new guidelines to strengthen the safe-harbour regime and clarify the production and distribution of accessible copies. These guidelines should encourage wider institutional participation, reassure rights holders, and boost the availability of books in Braille and other accessible formats.

Asein said these regulations will be supported by ongoing advocacy, awareness campaigns, and training for publishers, libraries, and educational institutions.

He concluded by calling on all stakeholders to move from awareness to immediate action by actively supporting and implementing robust policies that guarantee the wide availability of accessible reading materials.

He emphasized that World Braille Day demands not just recognition but decisive steps, as inclusion is “a legal obligation, a moral imperative and a development necessity.”