Lagos lawmaker urges residents on regular eye checks, organises free cataract surgeries
Lagos, Feb. 13, 2026 (NAN) Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, member, representing Eti-Osa Constituency-02, Lagos State House of Assembly, has urged residents to always go for regular eye checks to prevent blindness.
Yishawu made this disclosure at his 11th Free Eye Care, Cataract Surgery Programme and 6th Annual Human Capital Development Skills Graduation Ceremony and Start-Up Support Programme, in Lagos on Friday.
Speaking on the need for regular checks, Yishawu, a fourth-term lawmaker, said that many residents only seek help when issues arise, making issues like glaucoma and cataracts too late to reverse.
The lawmaker said no fewer than 3,000 residents in Eti-Osa Constituency-02 had so far benefitted from the programme with 20 constituents benefitting from free cataract surgeries.
Yishau said the ongoing outreach, which was structured as a community programme, had attracted a large turnout, showing the growing need for accessible eye care services.
The lawmaker disclosed that a wide range of eye conditions had been recorded among patients seen so far, including cataracts, chronic ulcers and other vision-related complications.
He said the programme provided services like free consultations, eye pressure checks, visual acuity tests, blood pressure checks, and prescription glasses, free cataract surgeries for qualified residents with verified voter cards
The lawmaker explained that many eye cases go beyond the need for glasses, stressing that some patients require detailed screening and specialist attention.
Also at the event, Yishawu also he had empowered his constituents from the seven wards in various vocational and digital skills.
The lawmaker said the aim of the empowerment programme was to a reduce unemployment and foster entrepreneurship.
He said the empowerment programme was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA); and the Digital Skills Training Programme.
Yishawu reaffirmed his commitment to human capital development, noting that the programmes were designed to equip youths and women with practical skills to enable them become self-reliant and economically productive.
“Under the Women’s Vocational Training Programme, implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, 74 women graduated from the December 2025 cohort.
” This is with 15 outstanding participants receiving start-up tools at the ceremony. The programme offers training in catering, hairdressing, knitting, fashion design and soap making.
“Similarly, the Vocational Training Programme in collaboration with WAPA trained over 2,500 beneficiaries in photography, barbing, screen printing, welding, catering, computing, fashion design and adult literacy.
“More than 300 participants also received start-up tools and equipment support, with another set of outstanding graduates empowered at the event.
“In the digital category, 84 youths graduated in fields such as data analytics, graphic design, digital marketing, cybersecurity and UI/UX.
“Bringing the total number of beneficiaries under the Digital Skills Training Programme to 280 while top-performing students were presented with laptops to support their career development,” he said.
Speaking during the outreach, Dr Itua Enaakhe, an eye care specialist, explained that many eye cases go beyond the need for glasses, stressing that some patients require detailed screening and specialist attention.
Enaakhe added that children, in particular, might not necessarily benefit from spectacles alone, making proper medical evaluation crucial.
She urged patients who are referred for further investigations to promptly visit nearby health centres, optometrists or eye doctors, adding that referrals were essential in cases such as cataracts where surgery might be required.
Highlighting the financial burden of eye surgery, Enaakhe said that cataract surgery could cost as much as N2.5 million.
She noted, however, that cataract treatment costs vary widely due to the absence of price regulation and differences in surgical techniques.
Commending the organiser, Enaakhe said she had participated in four editions and praised the initiative for partnering with relevant stakeholders to advance eye care and healthcare delivery across communities.
Speaking, Mrs Ibe Chinyere, an eye patient, said she came to benefit from the free eye surgery because she had a wrong surgery on her left eye years ago.
She said ,consequently, the eye had started disturbing her and that she could no longer see clearly.
“I went to that hospital again but they said I should go and bring one million naira and I couldn’t afford it. I would be happy if I can get free surgery so my left eye can be clear again and I know my coming here won’t be in vain,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Julius Abulime, the Social Secretary, Federal Civil Service Club, said he attended the programme because he was having faint sight and it had been blurry for him to walk on the street ,adding driving had been difficult.
He said: “This opportunity came up and I have to take my own chance as well, I came early and I have been attended to by professionals.
“The lawmaker has been doing well to make sure his constituents stay alive and healthy.
“When you have your sight, you will have happiness because darkness is sadness, he realised that for him to have invested in people’s happiness.
” In doing this, he is trying to remove sadness from their lives because when you are in darkness you are sad.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme attracted party leaders, community stakeholders, youths, women groups and members of the media. (NAN)