By Blessing Bature
The Federal Government has called for stronger and more strategic private-sector investment in eye health as part of efforts to reduce preventable blindness, improve productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call at a Public-Private Sector Roundtable on Eye Health held in Abuja under the theme, “GIFT of Sight: Mobilising Partnerships and Sustainable Funding towards Transforming Eye Care in Nigeria.”
Salako said eye health should no longer be viewed solely as a health-sector concern, stressing that good vision is fundamental to education, workplace productivity, economic growth and national development. He noted that about 24 million Nigerians live with vision loss, much of which is linked to preventable or treatable conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, uncorrected refractive errors and digital eye strain.
He therefore urged businesses across banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, energy and other sectors to recognise eye-health investment as both a social responsibility and a strategic economic decision.
The Minister called on the private sector to deploy innovative financing mechanisms, including blended finance, social impact funds, co-financing arrangements and concessional loans, to expand eye-care infrastructure and access to quality services.
In her opening remarks, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun, represented by Dr. Diron Olojo, said eye health was not merely a medical concern but a critical component of education, productivity, economic inclusion and human dignity.
She noted that preventable and treatable visual impairment continues to affect individuals, families and communities, stressing that gaps in awareness, skilled personnel, equipment and access to services must be addressed through sustained collaboration.
The FCMB Managing Director rearfirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding access to eye care, and urged stakeholders to use the roundtable to agree on three practical priorities: identifying communities and services with the greatest unmet needs; developing sustainable financing plans with clearly defined responsibilities; and establishing delivery timelines and measurable indicators for accountability.
In her presentation, titled “The True Value of Vision- Transforming Health, Economy, and Human Potential” the National Coordinator, National Eye Ear and Sensory Function Health Programme, Dr. Oteri Okolo said the gathering was not merely to discuss public health interventions population or clinical statistics, but to confront a fundamental pillar of human dignity, development, prosperity, and social potential: the value of vision.
She noted that for generations, eye health was viewed as a secondary priority—a peripheral health issue relegated to the background in favour of acute diseases and maternal health, emphasizing that vision is not a luxury, but core window through which human beings learn, work, connect, and navigate the world.
