The Kwara State government in collaboration with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and Sightsavers has conducted free eye screening for 300 civil servants and students in Ilorin, the state capital.
The screening was part of activities marking the 2025 World Sight Day.
The state commissioner for health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Dr. Taoheed Abdullahi, described the World Sight Day as a global event dedicated to promoting eye health and preventing avoidable blindness.
She said the 2025 theme, “Love Your Eyes,” called on everyone to recognise the vital role vision plays in daily life and to take proactive steps to protect it.
“Good vision is fundamental to our well-being, education, employment opportunities, productivity, and independence. Yet, millions of people worldwide, including many in Nigeria, have preventable vision impairment and blindness. This is not just a health issue; it affects families, communities, and development,” she said.
El-Imam noted that eye health is increasingly threatened by factors such as aging populations, unhealthy lifestyles, and environmental conditions.
She added that inadequate knowledge of good eye health practices, low awareness, sedentary lifestyles, and the rise in non-communicable diseases have contributed to preventable conditions such as refractive errors and cataracts
She disclosed that the state government has continued to expand access to eye care services through Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and specialised eye clinics, which now offer regular screenings, treatment for common eye conditions, and sight-saving surgeries.
