How VisionSpring empowers Nigeria’s artistry community with clear vision for creativity

In the vibrant streets of Nigeria, creativity knows no bounds. From the intricate patterns of Adire textiles to the soulful melodies of Afrobeats, the country’s artistry community is a treasure trove of talent and innovation.

However, for many Nigerian artists, a lack of access to proper eye care can hinder their creative potential. That’s where VisionSpring comes in – a social enterprise dedicated to providing affordable eyewear and eye care services to those who need it most.

By empowering Nigeria’s artistry community with clear vision, VisionSpring is not only improving lives but also unlocking a world of creativity and possibility. VisionSpring and Nike Art Gallery partnered to celebrate the intersection of art and vision in a special art exhibition themed, ‘Artistry, Creativity, and Innovation for a Thriving Nigeria.’

The initiative highlighted the importance of creativity and artistry in Nigerian culture, while also introducing the challenge of limited access to eye care and how VisionSpring is addressing the issue.

The exhibition provided a glimpse into the positive impact of VisionSpring’s work and hints at the inspiring stories of Nigerian artists that have been impacted since 2016, when VisionSpring started intervening in Nigeria’s low-income communities with eyeglasses as a social enterprise.

“Our biggest challenge in the art industry is our sight. Without our eyes, we can’t do anything,” said Nike Okundaye, director, Nike Art Gallery.

According to her, many artists do not pay attention to their eyes, which is why the gallery and the creative community partnered with the initiative to help restore sights for artists. “When I met VisionSpring, I said you are our God sent because a lot of our artists have lost their eyes.”

It was disclosed that many artists in Nike’s network are experiencing age-related vision loss, which is affecting their capability to create and make a living. Hence, the art exhibition highlighted some of the most talented artists in Nike’s network, demonstrating how important vision correction is in preserving cultural heritage.

Gabriel Ogunyemi, Africa regional director, VisionSpring, said that clear vision is essential for artists to bring their ideas to life. However, many Nigerian artists struggle with vision problems, hindering their creative potential.

According to him, the partnership between VisionSpring and Nike Art Gallery is an initiative that addresses the issue of blurry sight, by providing access to eye care and eyewear, enabling artists to see their work with clarity and precision.

He disclosed that VisionSpring’s impact is evident in the stories of Nigerian artists who have benefited from their services. From painters to sculptors, musicians to writers, VisionSpring has empowered artists to create with confidence and precision. With clear vision, artists can focus on their craft, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

According to him, VisionSpring’s innovative approach to eye care has made it possible for artists in rural and underserved communities to access eyewear and eye care services. By partnering with local organisations and leveraging technology, VisionSpring has expanded access to eye care, reaching artists who would otherwise be left behind.

“In six years’ time, we have corrected the vision of more than 350,000 Nigerians through eyeglasses. We are especially committed to Nigeria’s artisans and low-income workers who use their hands for detailed tasks,” Ogunyemi said.

According to him, artists are now able to experiment with new techniques, explore different mediums, and bring fresh perspectives to their work. He said further that by providing clear vision, VisionSpring is fostering creativity and innovation in Nigeria’s artistry community, which in turn, is contributing to a vibrant and dynamic art scene, showcasing Nigerian talent to the world.

While VisionSpring’s work is making a significant impact, challenges remain. According to Ogunyemi, limited awareness, lack of infrastructure, and affordability constraints hinder access to eye care. However, VisionSpring sees these challenges as opportunities to innovate and expand its reach in Nigeria, and by extension, Africa.

“More than 70 million Nigerians have uncorrected blurry vision. In other words, about one in three Nigerians just need a simple pair of eyeglasses to see clearly,” Ogunyemi said, disclosing that most of those who need eyeglasses and do not have them are in low-income communities.

According to him, clear sight has a profound effect on many aspects of human lives, including ability to work, read, and create. He said further that blurry vision is an easily solvable problem that can have an outsized impact on both an individual’s earning capacity and quality of life.

“In April, VisionSpring published findings from THRIVE, a randomised controlled trial conducted with Queen’s University Belfast and BRAC. The study, carried out in rural Bangladesh, found that participants who received reading glasses experienced a 33.4 percent boost in median monthly income compared to the control group,” Ogunyemi said.

He disclosed further that VisionSpring is driving the awareness campaign in Nigeria among people living in rural communities, especially those losing their sight due to an age-related disease caused by blurry vision.

“So, we are just starting from here to use these artists as a point of contact to get many other occupations that are near vision intense and they cannot see things that are very close. We try to use artists as a pivot to raise awareness and then launch into the other occupation space over time.”

Ogunyemi also urged other corporate organisations to deepen their CSR initiatives to include and focus on age-related diseases like presbyopia. “So, we are raising awareness so that corporate organisations can know that this problem is big and it takes support to solve it. We want them to support us in our programs, either through donation, through financial support, or through philanthropic giving so that they can partner with our organisation to reach more people.”

Oteri Okolo, national coordinator, national eye health program at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that the federal government is interested in helping Nigerians better their capacity to earn and improve their livelihood through the national eye health initiative.

“In that initiative, VisionSpring is one of the partners that support us, and that initiative is to ensure that at least 5 million Nigerians over 40 get a pair of reading glasses to be able to improve their productivity. Now, when I say reading glasses, I don’t mean that the glasses are for reading only. They are for anything near work, so you can imagine the importance of reading glasses in the creative and innovative sector.”

She disclosed that President Tinubu’s goal is to ensure that Nigerians have increased access to reading glasses, and other support systems to improve the productivity of Nigerians, especially for people who are in the rural areas.

“Like we know, 70percent of Nigerians reside in the rural areas, yet they do not have access to a simple pair of glasses. So basically Mr. President wants to ensure that 5 million of those Nigerians have access to a free pair of spectacles to improve their productivity and their well-being.”

Abimbola Ogundirahun, country manager, VisionSpring Nigeria, said that the intersection between art and vision correction aimed at supporting the Nigerian artistry community, especially those experiencing drop in productivity due to age-related blurry vision.

“For you to be able to perform art, for you to be able to draw, you need your eyes; so, this is why we are creating awareness and advocacy today – so that we can have everybody work and partner with us to give people that need vision correction the correction they need.”

According to her, VisionSpring’s empowerment of Nigeria’s artistry community with clear vision for creativity is a testament to the transformative power of access to eye care. She said that by unlocking the creative potential of artists, VisionSpring is contributing to a more vibrant, innovative, and inclusive art scene.

“This is under the program called ‘See-to-earn’. You have a lot of people, the underserved communities, artisans, farmers, artists who need their eyes to earn a living and they are not able to afford the glasses they need to preserve their eyes. So, we are creating awareness around the need for eye tests and the need to have glasses.”

Ogundirahun disclosed further that as VisionSpring continues to expand its reach, the possibilities for Nigerian artists are endless, and the world will undoubtedly be inspired by the creativity and talent that emerges.