The federal government has stated commitment to improving access to books and educational materials for blind and visually impaired persons through policies under the new Copyright Act 2023.
Speaking at the International White Cane Day celebration in Abuja, John Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), said the Commission is developing a framework to implement the Marrakesh Treaty.
This allows persons with visual impairments to access published works in accessible formats.
He said the new Act provides legal backing for authorised entities to reproduce materials such as textbooks and literature in Braille, audio, or large print formats.
“It is unacceptable that less than one percent of published materials in Nigeria are accessible to the blind. That number must change, and we are determined to change it through effective policy enforcement and collaboration with stakeholders,” Asein said.
According to him, the NCC is partnering with the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to roll out guidelines that will ensure publishers and authors comply with the law.
He added that the government will also require that a portion of publicly funded educational materials be made available in accessible formats.
(Business Day)
