President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared his support for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation to provide more than 5 million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians with sight impairments.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, September 1, 2023.

According to him, President Tinubu declared his support for the initiative when he received the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Prof. Andrew Bastawrous, on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.


Ajuri said the President who made a pledge on behalf of the federal government during the visit, recounted how close to home his first intervention in eye health was, narrating how his late mother encouraged him to take up the challenge of providing vision care for the needy of society.

The President fondly recalled: “My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognise me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses. The next question she asked me was: I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their children who may not have somebody like you to intervene for them?

“So I made a promise to her that I would pursue the mass provision of eye care vigorously and that I would provide free eye screenings and surgeries to people because of that question my mother asked me and because of her passion to see others healed.

“We eventually impacted the eye health of millions of people in Lagos, and you could see their joy over the immediate sight enhancements when they were given a pair of glasses.”

Highlighting the pressing need for improved eye health services in Nigeria, President Tinubu expressed concern about the more than 24 million Nigerians grappling with varying degrees of vision impairments.

“We must act now because sight and vision is critical to economic development and growth,” the President said, recalling his visionary “Jigi Bola” programme, which was initiated during his tenure as the Executive Governor of Lagos State in 2001 and provided free eye screenings and surgeries to Lagosians while setting a new precedent for proactive eye care initiatives in West Africa.

“I am in support of this initiative, and I will encourage the mobilisation of further commitment to see this through and to reach vulnerable people all across our country. Some parents may not pay attention to this, but I will, because I am touched,” the President concluded.

Expressing his commitment to the cause, Prof. Bastawrous said: “Good vision unlocks human potential. It improves earning, learning, and wellness for individuals, communities, and countries.


“When I was 12, I was told by my teachers that I was clumsy and lazy, but the results of an eye exam explained I had very poor vision. And when I put on a pair of glasses, I saw the leaves on a tree for the first time, and my life completely changed two weeks later, I was wearing my first pair of free eyeglasses and I saw stars clearly for the first time. My grades improved, and the trajectory of my life completely changed, all because of a very cheap intervention that was 700 years old. Had that not happened, I would not be standing in front of you today. I would not be a professor, and I would not be involved in the work I am doing because sight gives opportunity.

Professor Bastawrous noted that eye care is still chronically under-resourced in many countries, adding that the estimates in Nigeria show that 0.0002 percent of the health budget is spent on eye health.

He concluded: “The good news is that President Tinubu has an excellent team in the health sector, and some of them have demonstrated tremendous leadership in the sector. What we would like to offer is to bring our Peek Vision methodology and platform to Nigeria to help unlock resources from multiple sources. In the countries where we have worked, Peek in Botswana unlocked 10 million dollars for the school programme, and in Kenya, 17 million Euros. Through the Vision Catalyst Fund, we have secured a donation of 200 million pairs of glasses, and we would like a significant proportion of that to come to Nigeria.”

At the end of the event, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate was joined by the Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme, Dr. Oteri Okolo, and the Director of Public Health, Dr. Chukuma Anyaike, he presented a National Policy Document on Eye Health to the President.

SOURCE: https:///tinubu-approves-initiative-to-supply-eyeglasses-to-5-million-nigerians/

Mugu, it's eyeglasses 👓 that you can supply, is eyeglass good this hard time is it eye class we will eat,,, lark of not going school

Hehehe.

Na person wa chop bellefull da see eyes see.

Eye glasses that can reduce fuel price drastically .

All these money and gift sharing have been proven not to work in Nigeria. The money will be looted and relooted.

These are magical eyeglasses that cure hunger and alleviate poverty...



Tinubu is working

Pahahahah e good because some Nigerians blind to have casted vote for a drug papi

I am beginning to see Tinibu has very bad advisers around him.
Let’s look at this without any sentiments of tribe, religion etc.
Why are you approving 5 million eye glasses when the health sector is in shambles. Don’t you think it’s better to improve the health sector and that will follow? Why not give health insurance to citizens!
Again I am sure if you keep food on one side and eyeglasses on the other for someone that is hungry and has eye problems that person will definitely take food first. I stand to be corrected
This are some of the things this administration is coming up with that makes me believe they are clueless. Note that I don’t like PDP, APC and LP in fact I hate all politicians. I just want someone that will change this country so I can come back to Nigeria and set up something.

Hahahaha this people can't kill us with laughter.......

8k monthly cancelled and converted to once in a life time Crumbs

Now eyeglasses


Foodlums and lovers of crumbs glasses and hats will make sense to you guys

Because you need eyeglass to see food to Chop.

The problem is not the approval. If he's not ready to send someone to jail for diverting the funds he will release for it, the news will be audio news.

Alchemy528:
Mugu, it's eyeglasses 👓 that you can supply, is eyeglass good this hard time is it eye class we will eat,,, lark of not going school

Oga no b everything person dey wail on top ooo

Atimes u gats rest n drink water small

stewiepeter:
I am beginning to see Tinibu has very bad advisers around him.
Let’s look at this without any sentiments of tribe, religion etc.
Why are you approving 5 million eye glasses when the health sector is in shambles. Don’t you think it’s better to improve the health sector and that will follow? Why not give health insurance to citizens!
Again I am sure if you keep food on one side and eyeglasses on the other for someone that is hungry and has eye problems that person will definitely take food first. I stand to be corrected
This are some of the things this administration is coming up with that makes me believe they are clueless. Note that I don’t like PDP, APC and LP in fact I hate all politicians. I just want someone that will change this country so I can come back to Nigeria and set up something.

tinubu has been dere before so he knows how it is to have eye issues

Rest first n see he’s trying to pity those in his shoes without money to do that

Same way babangida wife is always very concerned about breast cancer patients, outside governance we all have some issues we can directly relate with with been a billionaire or a pauper

I don’t think you’re comparing apples to apples when you compare someone with cancer and that who suffer from eye problem. The later is life threatening while the other is mainly associated with discomfort and quality of life.
All am saying is since resources are scarce and we have to prioritise, I think giving out corrective glasses shouldn’t be on top of the list.

Godwin4444:
tinubu has been dere before so he knows how it is to have eye issues

Rest first n see he’s trying to pity those in his shoes without money to do that

Same way babangida wife is always very concerned about breast cancer patients, outside governance we all have some issues we can directly relate with with been a billionaire or a pauper

Eyeglasses to protect our eyes from the shege promax we will see in the coming months.

The Headless Mob who voted you in will NEED the glasses, as it stands; the effect of Marathon garri and salt consumption has eaten deep into their sight and most could probably go semi-blind and the renewed shege they were suppose to see and behold will eventually be heard in AUDIO FORMAT.

Anyway, #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary