The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr John Asein, has urged Nigerians to cultivate a strong reading culture in order to build a society where creativity is respected.
He said such a culture would also ensure that authors are properly rewarded for their intellectual contributions and encouraged to continue producing creative works.
Asein made the call in a statement by NCC Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, as Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Book and Copyright Day, established by UNESCO in 1995, is observed annually on April 23 to promote reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property rights globally.
He said the theme of 2026 celebration, “Read Books, Respect Copyright,” called on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit while recognizing the importance of copyright in sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.
Asein emphasized that the event highlighted the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, tools for cultural preservation, and key drivers of national development and socio-economic growth across all sectors.
He explained that Nigeria’s book industry had evolved significantly from post-independence indigenous publishing to a modern, digitally driven ecosystem with increasing global recognition for Nigerian authors and expanding publishing capacity.
According to him, piracy remains a major challenge affecting the creative industry, alongside weak distribution systems and limited access to books, all of which continue to hinder readership growth nationwide.
Asein stressed that intellectual property protection was essential for economic growth, adding that the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy marked a major step in repositioning IP as a driver of national development.
He said the policy provided a roadmap for strengthening the book sector, improving legal frameworks, and enhancing the commercialization of copyright works for the benefit of authors and publishers.
According to him, improved enforcement, collective management systems, and digital publishing integration will enable authors to earn better, expand readership, and compete more effectively in global markets.
Asein also called for inclusive access to books, noting that persons with visual impairments faced significant challenges, and reaffirmed NCC’s commitment to implementing the Marrakesh Treaty under the Copyright Act 2022.
He added that the Commission would intensify anti-piracy operations nationwide while urging students, parents, educators, and book lovers to purchase books only from authorized and accredited sources.(NAN)
