The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, Dr. John Asein, has urged Nigerians to cultivate a strong reading culture and respect copyright laws.
According to a release issued Friday by the Director of Public Affairs, Ijeoma Egbunike, the DG gave the charge as part of the activities to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.
Asein said, “Books are vital tools for knowledge, cultural preservation, and national development,” noting that this year’s theme, “Read Books, Respect Copyright,” highlights the importance of reading alongside protecting intellectual property.
He acknowledged the significant growth of Nigeria’s book industry, from its post-independence roots to a modern, digitally driven ecosystem, with Nigerian authors gaining increasing global recognition.
He said despite this progress, piracy remains a major challenge, adding that it continues to undermine legitimate businesses and reduce the economic value of creative works.
He also blamed poor distribution systems and limited access to books as constraints to expanding readership.
The NCC boss added that Nigeria’s literary contributions remain globally relevant, and that protecting intellectual property is essential, not only as a legal duty, but also as a strategy for economic growth and cultural sustainability.
He commended the federal government for introducing the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, applauding it as a key step toward repositioning the creative sector.
The DG stressed that the Copyright Act, 2022, supports the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty, allowing the production of accessible formats such as Braille, audio, and digital text.
He assured that the Commission would continue to work with libraries, schools, and other stakeholders to expand access to reading materials and promote inclusive learning.
He also pledged to intensify anti-piracy operations nationwide and urged Nigerians to support the book industry by purchasing books only from authorised sellers and distributors.
He therefore called on students, parents, educators, and book lovers to play their part in building a culture that values reading and respects creativity.
“Let us build a nation where reading is a habit, creativity is respected, and our authors are justly rewarded,” he said.