FG Receives Report On Advancing Eye Health For Older Persons

As part of measures to improve the wellbeing of older persons, the Federal Government has received a report on advancing eye health of older persons in Africa and the Manila Statement.

The report was presented by the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN)

President of COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku, OFR, and Secretary-General of the Coalition, Reverend Victoria Onu presented the report in Abuja during an official visit to the Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Mrs Bolanle Akinyemi Obe, on the 24th of September 2025

Senator Ajoku said the purpose of the visit was to brief the Federal Government, through the NSCC, on the outcomes of the international workshop on “Advancing the Eye Health of the Older Population in Africa” held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa, on 12th September 2025, and to present the accompanying “Manila Statement” as a guiding document in preparation for the United Nations World Sight Day on October 9, 2025.

He stated that the workshop, jointly organized by the Fred Hollows Foundation, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), and the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), brought together experts in vision care, public health, and ageing.

“It provided a platform for African nations to exchange ideas and develop strategies aimed at integrating vision health into national ageing and health policies.” the President of COSROPIN explained.

“In his words “Nigeria was one of five African countries invited to participate in this important forum and participants underscored the urgent need to prioritize eye health among older populations, recognizing that vision health is central to healthy ageing, influencing mobility, safety, mental well-being, and overall quality of life”.

“The Manila Statement, endorsed at the workshop, calls for a multi-sectoral and inter-agency approach to reduce preventable blindness and visual impairment across Africa, especially among senior citizens” Senator Ajoku stressed.

Receiving the report, Director-General of NSCC, Mrs Bolanle Akinyemi Obe expressed deep appreciation to COSROPIN for its proactive role in representing Nigeria at the event and for championing the cause of older persons’ health and dignity.

She commended COSROPIN’s efforts and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to adopt the report as a key national framework for action, particularly in advancing the inclusion of eye-health initiatives within the Centre’s ongoing programmes.

The Director General assured the COSROPIN leadership that the Federal Government, through the NSCC, will collaborate with COSROPIN and development partners—including the Fred Hollows Foundation, IAPB, IFA and others—to implement the recommendations of the Cape Town Workshop and the Manila Statement in Nigeria.

“This partnership will ensure that older Nigerians living with or at risk of vision impairment receive the care, attention, and policy support they deserve,” the Director General added.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji