The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is planning a National Accessible Book Portal to help blind and print-disabled Nigerians access books, textbooks and other published works, as it steps up efforts to bridge the knowledge gap facing persons with visual impairments.

The Commission’s Director-General, Dr. John Asein, disclosed this on Thursday in a statement marking the 2026 White Cane Day, describing the proposed portal as a major step towards translating copyright protections into practical access to knowledge.

The platform will help authorised entities identify and obtain books in accessible formats, reduce duplication and strengthen collaboration among authors, publishers, libraries, educational institutions and disability organisations.

Asein said the initiative would build on Section 26 of the Copyright Act, 2022, which provides for the production and supply of accessible-format copies to eligible persons with print disabilities, in line with the principles of the Marrakesh Treaty.

He urged publishers and authors to go beyond legal compliance by embracing “born accessible” publishing, designing books and digital publications from the outset to work with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

According to him, accessible publishing should become standard practice rather than an afterthought, ensuring that people who cannot read conventional print are not shut out of education, research and professional advancement.

The proposed portal is also expected to strengthen trust between rights holders and authorised entities by promoting transparent, lawful and efficient access to accessible-format publications.

Asein said the initiative builds on the Commission’s Let the Blind Read campaign and ongoing engagement with publishers, libraries, disability organisations and technology providers.

“No child should be disadvantaged because a textbook is inaccessible and no one should be excluded from knowledge because they read differently,” he said.

Marking White Cane Day 2026, themed “Promoting Independence, Inclusion and Equal Access for Persons Who Are Blind,” the director-general called for collective action to ensure that visual impairment or print disability does not become a barrier to learning and full participation in society.

He urged stakeholders to renew their commitment to the campaign’s message: “Let the Blind Read.”