Our work in Nigeria
At a glance
With 133 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country. But nearly 70% of Nigerians live in poverty, earning less than 140 Naira or $1 a day.
Many families work as subsistence farmers, living a hand-to-mouth existence, which means that health care is rarely a priority. For people who are blind or visually impaired - an estimated five million - there are many barriers to essential treatment, including accessibility, affordability and availability.
Sightsavers in Nigeria
Sightsavers' partners here range from from ministries of health and education to local government authorities and community organisations. Together we've been preventing and curing blindness in Nigeria for over 40 years.
Latest news from Nigeria
Find out the latest news from Nigeria and our projects and partners there.
River blindness in Nigeria
River blindness is endemic in Nigeria, with an estimated 27 million people at risk.
Video diaries from Nigeria
Meet Mrs Oluwatoyin Opawoye, who is the Head Ophthalmic Nurse and a refractionist at the Sobi Eye Care Unit in Kwara State, Nigeria. She has been keeping video diaries, which you can view here.
Caught in time
Glaucoma develops gradually, so people often don’t realise they have it. Ahmadu from Nigeria was lucky that his glaucoma was diagnosed and treated before he lost his sight.
Mama's independence
Alice Udagbo, affectionately known as Mama, has had her life turned around by successful sight restoring cataract surgery.
A fresh start in Nigeria
Sightsavers’ Katy Dore visited Nigeria, the most populous country in West Africa, and saw how Sightsavers is making a real difference to people’s lives.
Important data about blindness in Nigeria
A survey of blindness and low vision in Nigeria has found that nearly half a million adults in the country are in immediate need of cataract surgery.
Spreading the word on the airwaves
Sadiya Sale didn’t know that the painful scratching sensation she was experiencing was trachoma, until she heard about a Sightsavers supported programme on the radio.
