By Ameh Gabriel
At the prestigious EyeBall Summit 2025, hosted by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), Dr. Yemi Ajao, CEO of OneBarrow International Limited, urged eye health professionals to take the lead in transforming Nigeria’s preventive healthcare landscape.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Eye Care in Nigeria: Strengthening Systems through Strategic Alliances,” the two-day event brought together stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem to ignite collaboration, inspire innovation, and elevate the profession’s role in national development.
In a rousing speech titled “Reframing Vision in National Health Reform: Empowering Eye Care Professionals through Leadership, Technology, and Policy,” Dr. Ajao urged the audience to see themselves not just as clinicians, but as change agents embedded within the national health architecture.
“Without vision, a nation cannot progress,” Dr. Ajao began. “That’s not just a metaphor. Vision impacts education, productivity, dignity and ultimately, development.”
He introduced OneBarrow’s groundbreaking 5KM Preventive Health Initiative, a scalable, tech-driven model designed to bring healthcare within five kilometers of every Nigerian through strategic integration with pharmacies, labs, mobile clinics, and the iDoctorAccess platform.
This model aligns closely with reforms championed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Dr. Ajao emphasized that eye health professionals are often the first to detect chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, yet are underrepresented in national preventive care systems.
He challenged attendees to step forward as leaders in:
Community screenings, especially in schools and underserved areas
Digital health transformation via iDoctorAccess
Training future leaders through OneBarrow’s bootcamps
Policy advocacy, including support for the Preventive Health Bill
Insights from pilot programs in Lagos and Abuja revealed that 1 in 4 schoolchildren screened had vision impairments, yet only 6% had seen an eye care provider. Among adults aged 35+, 36% had undiagnosed eye conditions underscoring the urgent need to prioritize preventive eye care at scale.
“The future isn’t about building more hospitals it’s about activating and connecting what already exists,” Dr. Ajao said. “When we empower those who help others see, we help the whole nation move forward.”
Earlier, ODORBN Registrar Dr. Obinna Edwin Awiaka delivered a powerful opening address, reminding attendees of their unique position in an evolving healthcare landscape.
“The EyeBall Summit is more than just an event it is a testament to our collective resilience, vision, and responsibility,” Dr. Awiaka said. “In a world marked by shifting patient needs and rapid technological change, we must remain committed to professional excellence, ethical standards, and lifelong learning.”
The summit’s core mission, he noted, was to accelerate Nigeria’s transformation toward a more inclusive, innovative, and accessible eye care system through cross-sector partnerships, knowledge exchange, and system-level reform
The EyeBall Summit concluded with a renewed call for integration, innovation, and legislation in eye care policy. From ethical excellence to digital readiness, ODORBN and its partners signaled that the era of siloed practice is over and a new chapter of strategic alliance has begun.
“Let us be bold in our discussions, open in our networking, and unafraid to challenge the status quo,” Dr. Awiaka urged. “Together, we can co-create a future where no Nigerian is left behind in the right to clear sight.”
