In Nigeria’s Kebbi State, more than 2,000 blind persons have had their sight restored thanks to First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF). Free eye exams, optical services, surgeries, glasses, and other preventive and remedial care for various eye problems were provided to the beneficiaries.
The program, which has been active for 14 years in collaboration with TCF, is a component of FCMB’s Priceless Gift of Sight project. The program aims to protect Nigerians who are less fortunate and have fewer incomes from preventable blindness and to restore their vision.
At the outreach event in Kebbi, Mr. Diran Olojo, Group Head of Corporate Affairs for FCMB, said: “Visual impairment is a handicap that frequently results in restricted mobility, diminished access to information, loss of income, and lower quality of life. Most of its victims are robbed of their productivity. As a result, they will probably struggle to support themselves and their families, which will further the spread of poverty.
In addition, Mr. Olojo said FCMB is pleased with how its Priceless Gift of Sight initiative is closing the gap, averting avoidable blindness, and giving underprivileged Nigerians their sight back. In accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 – Good Health and Well-Being and 10 – Reduced Inequalities, he stated that the bank would keep funding efforts that promote accessible healthcare for all Nigerians, regardless of their background.
The governor of Kebbi State, Comrade Nasiru Idris, praised FCMB and TCF for their responsiveness and commitment to the program over the course of the previous 14 years. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, stated that the state government will continue to welcome organizations and non-governmental bodies ready to support the citizens’ social and physical wellbeing.
For his part, Mr. Chandarkne Deshpande, the TCF program manager, thanked FCMB for supporting the initiative since 2009. Our association with FCMB has been a very positive one, he remarked. With our free testing, optical services, surgeries, eyeglasses, and care of eye diseases, we have helped over 350,000 people in Nigeria. Through this, we have been able to significantly improve people’s lives.
This project from FCMB and TCF is a great illustration of how businesses can have a beneficial influence on society. FCMB and TCF are making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of Nigerians by offering free eye care treatments to those in need and enhancing their communities.
