FG Calls For Private Sector Investment To Enhance Eye Care In Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria is advocating for increased private-sector investment in eye health to combat preventable blindness, enhance productivity, and bolster the nation’s human capital.
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, issued this call during a Public-Private Sector Roundtable on Eye Health held in Abuja. The event, titled “GIFT of Sight: Mobilising Partnerships and Sustainable Funding towards Transforming Eye Care in Nigeria,” aimed to highlight the urgent need for collaboration in this critical area.
Salako emphasized that eye health should not be viewed solely as a medical issue, noting that good vision is vital for education, workplace productivity, economic growth, and overall national development. He reported that approximately 24 million Nigerians suffer from vision loss, primarily due to conditions that are preventable or treatable, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive errors.
The minister urged businesses across various sectors, including banking, manufacturing, and telecommunications, to see investment in eye health as both a social responsibility and a strategic economic opportunity. He proposed the development of innovative financing mechanisms—such as blended finance, social impact funds, co-financing arrangements, and concessional loans—to enhance eye care infrastructure and improve access to quality services.
Salako also encouraged companies to direct their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts towards structured initiatives, including school eye health programs, rural surgical outreach, and the establishment of community-based eye care centers. He highlighted the potential for telecommunications firms to leverage their digital infrastructure to expand tele-ophthalmology and mobile diagnostic services.
To further strengthen domestic capacity, Salako called upon local manufacturers to invest in the production of spectacle frames, lenses, and ophthalmic medicines, asserting that such initiatives would reduce reliance on imports, lower costs, generate employment, and enhance local supply chains.
The minister described recent progress under the Federal Government’s JigiBola 2.0 initiative, which has provided over two million free eye screenings and 1.5 million free spectacles in just over one year. Additionally, more than 2,200 Primary Health Care workers have been trained, and over 800 Primary Health Care centers have been activated to serve communities across 16 states. The next phase of the initiative aims to extend services to over one million Nigerians in an additional ten states, while the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative targets 25,000 free cataract surgeries by 2027.
Salako praised existing private-sector efforts, notably the collaboration between First City Monument Bank and the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, which has benefited more than 400,000 Nigerians. He encouraged other organizations to replicate such partnerships to address the significant eye health challenges facing the country.
“A nation cannot march into economic prosperity if it is walking blind,” Salako stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable public-private partnerships in eye health alongside the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
Moreover, he urged development partners and civil society organizations to provide the necessary support, technical expertise, and innovation to help transition Nigeria away from dependence on donor-funded interventions towards a self-sustaining eye health system.
In her opening remarks, FCMB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Yemisi Edun, represented by Dr. Diron Olojo, underscored the importance of eye health as a critical component of education, productivity, and human dignity. She highlighted FCMB’s ongoing partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation through the Priceless Gift of Sight Initiative, which has delivered free eye care services to over 400,000 Nigerians since its inception in 2009.
Edun called for actionable priorities at the roundtable, which included identifying communities with significant unmet needs, developing sustainable financing plans, and establishing measurable indicators for service delivery.
Dr. Oteri Okolo, National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Function Health Programme, echoed the need for a broader recognition of the social and economic value of vision. She noted that the program has been integrated into the national health strategy, ensuring that eye care is a central component of Universal Health Coverage.
In a goodwill message, Prof. Joy Shuaibu, Country Director of Sightsavers and Coordinator of the Eye Health Non-Governmental Development Organisation Coalition, commended the initiative for fostering stakeholder engagement across the sector. The coalition called for innovative solutions, financing, and partnerships to enhance access to eye health services.
Mimansa Shulala, Head of the Vision Care for Development Foundation, recounted the impact of their efforts to restore sight in underserved communities, having screened over 17,000 people and facilitated more than 1,500 cataract surgeries in collaboration with partners.
The roundtable brought together government officials, healthcare providers, private-sector representatives, foundations, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and advance a more equitable and sustainable eye care system in Nigeria.
