Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa Foundation, Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation Set to Provide Free Surgery

By Reporter

The Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa Foundation, in collaboration with Ministry for Health, Edo State and the Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation, is set to provide free cataract surgeries and comprehensive eye care services for 100 beneficiaries across communities in Edo State.

The medical outreach programme will take place from 10am to 4pm on Thursday March 12, 2026, at the Madona Hall of St Paul Catholic Church, located on Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State.

In a joint statement, both foundations and the State Health Ministry announced that the initiative aims to improve access to quality eye care for vulnerable and underserved populations, while addressing the growing burden of avoidable blindness caused by cataracts and other preventable eye conditions.

According to a statement by Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe, “…this humanitarian gesture is being organized in honor of Her Royal Highness Oloi (Queen) Evbagharu Erediauwa (the Obarisiuwa N’Erie), who passed on on August 20, 2016.

“Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa was one of the beloved wives of His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa. Seven years later, to preserve and celebrate the Queen’s enduring legacy of compassion, service, and commitment to community well-being, the Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa Foundation (OLEEF) was established.”

Apart from the free cataract surgeries, 100 free prescription glasses will be offered for school children while 200 reading glasses will be provided for adult beneficiaries after screening at the event. There will also be free post-surgery medication for the beneficiaries.

Since its inception, the Foundation has remained steadfast in its mission to uplift the less privileged through a range of impactful programs. It has provided educational support to underprivileged children, empowered rural women, and championed initiatives that promote the welfare and development of the girl child.

These interventions have touched lives across Edo State and beyond, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to social upliftment and sustainable community growth.

The upcoming free cataract surgery and eye care program further reflects the Foundation’s continuing dedication to humanitarian service and to the ideals of love, empathy, and generosity that the late Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa embodied throughout her lifetime.

Members of the public are therefore encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to access free medical evaluation, treatment, and surgeries, which will be conducted by a team of qualified ophthalmologists and medical volunteers led by the Chief Surgeon, Dr. Mejuya Okorodudu.