By Uche Austin
Asaba, Nigeria — January 4, 2026
As the world marks World Braille Day 2026, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), South-South Zone, has called on the Nigerian government to urgently fund Braille education, enforce disability laws, and end the systemic exclusion of persons with visual impairments.
In a press release issued on Sunday, NAWOJ South-South stressed that access to information is a fundamental human right and warned that continued neglect of persons with disabilities undermines national development and democratic values.
The statement signed by Comrade Stella Macaulay, Zonal Vice Chairperson, and Comrade Eunice Emeyazia, Zonal Secretary of NAWOJ South-South, said “Braille is not just a reading system; it is a gateway to education, independence, dignity, and full participation in society.”
NAWOJ noted that despite existing legal protections, including the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, many public schools, hospitals, courts, libraries, transportation facilities, and government offices across the South-South region still lack Braille materials, trained personnel, and accessible communication systems.
The association expressed particular concern for women and girls with visual impairments, who it said face compounded challenges of discrimination, poverty, and exclusion due to weak policy implementation and inadequate government commitment to disability inclusion.
Key Demands
NAWOJ South-South urged all tiers of government to take immediate steps, including:
- Funding Braille textbooks and learning materials in public schools, especially at basic and secondary levels
- Installing Braille signage and accessible information systems in all public buildings and transport facilities
- Training and recruiting teachers and public servants skilled in Braille and inclusive communication
- Providing targeted educational, vocational, and economic support for women and girls with visual impairments
- Enforcing disability laws with clear penalties for non-compliance
- Strengthening partnerships with civil society and disability-focused organizations
The group emphasized that inclusion should not be treated as charity but as a matter of justice and responsibility.
“As women journalists, we will continue to amplify marginalized voices and hold leaders accountable until accessibility becomes a lived reality for all,” the statement said.
Marking World Braille Day with the theme “Braille as a Tool for Inclusion, Education, and Equality,” NAWOJ South-South urged government authorities to move beyond policy promises and take concrete, measurable action.
“Nothing about persons with disabilities should be decided without them,” the association concluded.
