At least 500 Nigerians will get free eye cataract surgery from The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).
TREM explained that this medical outreach is one of the events planned to celebrate the 80th birthday of their leader, Bishop Dr. Mike Okonkwo.
Sightsavers, a global charity that works to prevent blindness, said cataracts happen when proteins build up in the eye, usually as people get older.
They also explained that cataracts can be present from birth or develop due to eye injuries or after other types of eye surgery.
Reverend Chinedu Nkere, the chairman of the event planning committee, said in a statement that people will first go through screening and then have the surgery at the Eye Foundation in Ikorodu, Lagos.
To be screened, interested people must get a registration form from TREM’s headquarters in Obanikoro, Lagos, from any TREM branch in Lagos, or fill out the form online.
He said the committee chose cataract surgery for the outreach because it can help people see clearly again and greatly improve their lives.
He explained that cataract surgeries help people live more independently, reduce accidents, improve their ability to see colors, and treat other eye conditions.
By offering these surgeries for free, TREM hopes to reduce avoidable blindness and improve life for 500 people. This act of kindness reflects Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s commitment to helping communities and supporting human development.
Other important events to celebrate Bishop Okonkwo’s 80th birthday include the 2025 Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture. The theme will be “The Nigeria of Our Dream: Today’s Reality and a Responsible Pathfinder.”
This year, the lecture will be delivered by former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on September 4th, 2025.
Major-General Ike Nwachukwu will serve as the chairman of the lecture, which will be held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Mike Okonkwo Football Tournament will begin with an opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on June 14th, 2025.
This year, 36 male teams and 8 female teams will take part, making a total of 44 grassroots football clubs.
The finals of the tournament will take place on Saturday, August 30th, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. This is the 20th season of the Mike Okonkwo Football Competition and marks a major milestone in its history.
