Media Rights Agenda has urged federal and state governments, policymakers and stakeholders in the country to take urgent steps to promote a vibrant reading culture and equitable access to knowledge.
In a statement to mark this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, MRA’s communications officer, Mr Idowu Adewale, tasked policymakers to strengthen the protection of rights of authors in an increasingly digital world.
According to him, books, whether in print or digital form, remain central to informed citizenship, cultural expression and the protection of fundamental rights.
He noted that access to books and educational materials has remained uneven across the country, particularly for underserved and rural communities, pointing out that the high costs of books, limited public library infrastructure, and inadequate digital access have continued to constrain the ability of many Nigerians, especially young people and the poor to fully participate in the knowledge economy.
Mr Adewale said authors, publishers and other creative professionals face persistent and increasing challenges in protecting their intellectual property, particularly in the digital environment where piracy, unauthorised reproduction and weak enforcement mechanisms undermine livelihoods and discourage innovation.
He stressed that the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments, depends significantly on the availability and accessibility of books and other knowledge resources, adding that “strengthening both access and protection is therefore essential to sustaining democratic discourse and inclusive development.”
Mr Adewale called on the government to invest in the revitalisation and expansion of the public library systems across the country while leveraging digital and other technological tools and devices to improve access and relevance. In addition, he said, they should promote policies that support affordable access to books, including through digital platforms and open access initiatives.
He also urged them to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws while ensuring that such laws are balanced and do not unduly restrict access to information; support local authors and publishers through grants, incentives, and capacity-building programmes and encourage the integration of reading culture initiatives into national education policies.
Mr Adewale called on private sector actors, civil society organisations, as well as research and educational institutions to collaborate in promoting reading habits, supporting local content creation, and leveraging technology to expand access to knowledge resources.
The World Book and Copyright Day, established by the UNESCO, celebrates books as powerful tools for education, cultural exchange, and the advancement of freedom of expression.
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