NNPC Restores Sight to Over 1,000 Nigerians in the South-West

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), through its social arm, the NNPC Foundation Ltd/Gte, has restored sight to over 1,000 individuals in the South-West, including two young children who were born blind.

The Foundation launched a free cataract screening and extraction campaign to combat preventable blindness caused by cataracts. Among the beneficiaries are 800 patients in Ogun State and 200 in Lagos State, all of whom have regained their sight through this initiative.

The medical team, led by Professor Grace Feyisayo Adepoju, successfully operated on nine-year-old Mohammed Lukman and six-year-old Adeleye Maria, both of whom had congenital cataracts.

Speaking on the initiative, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, emphasized the company’s commitment to improving healthcare access across Nigeria.

"NNPC is dedicated to supporting programs that directly enhance the well-being of Nigerians. This initiative is part of our broader mission to tackle health disparities nationwide," she stated.

With a goal of restoring over 6,000 people’s sight by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the Foundation has announced plans to extend the cataract campaign to the remaining five geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

For many families, the program has not only restored sight but also brought renewed hope. Five-year-old Iremide Kasali, who had suffered from cataract-related blindness since early childhood, is one such beneficiary. Her mother highlighted the financial barriers that had previously prevented her from receiving treatment.

Thanks to the NNPC Foundation, Iremide now has a second chance at life, with the company pledging post-surgery support to ensure full recovery and reintegration into normal activities.

With over 1,000 successful surgeries completed in the South-West, the NNPC Foundation’s initiative is not just restoring sight but also transforming lives across Nigeria.