About OSN Foundation
Every 5 seconds someone in the world becomes blind. Every minute a child becomes blind. In Nigeria approximately 1.2 million people are blind, and 4.08 million persons are severely visually handicapped. These numbers will almost double by the year 2020 unless concerted action is taken. 80% of this vision loss is avoidable — either preventable or treatable with currently available knowledge and technology. In practical terms, working together, we can restore or prevent visual loss in about 960,000 Nigerians and another 4.08 million Nigerians can be saved from low vision.
In particular, research is essential for the development of new and improved therapy as well as the identification of cost-effective interventions for the control of the major causes of blindness and low vision. OSN Foundation will support Research in Ophthalmology and Vision, which encompasses basic science investigation, clinical and operational research focused on meeting the needs of eye care in Nigeria.
The OSN Foundation will support activities of Vision for the Future-Nigeria:
To ensure that all Nigerians have access to high quality and affordable eye care
To promote access by ophthalmologists and others to the training and continuing education they need to provide such appropriate eye care.
The OSN Foundation will ensure support and active participation by all stakeholders in the World Health Organization/International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (WHO/IAPB) Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness – Vision 2020: The Right to Sight
Governance Membership
Governance Membership
1. The Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria
2. Corporate Members
3. Individual Members
The OSN Foundation Board
The affairs of the Foundation are directed by the OSN Foundation Board, hereafter known as the OSNF Board. The Chairman of the OSNF Board is a reputable Ophthalmologist appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN).
The tenure shall be four years renewable for another term of four years.
The Vice-Chairman shall be elected by a simple majority from the members of the OSNF Board. He shall serve a term of four years renewable for another term of four years.
The Secretary/Treasurer is an Ophthalmologist appointed by the National Executive Council of the OSN and shall serve for four years renewable for another term of four years.
Legal Adviser shall be a senior member of the bar – a Senior Advocate of Nigeria – nominated by the OSNF Board and shall be expected to give free legal service to the Foundation.
All other offices and posts that may be created by the Foundation shall be at the instance of the OSN Board and shall follow the procedures laid down by the OSNF Board.
Appointment of Members
to the OSNF Board
- Apart from the officers above, the following members of the OSN shall automatically be members of the OSNF Board:
a. the current President of the OSN for the duration of his term as president
b. the Secretary-General of the OSN for the duration of his term as secretary- general
c. the Treasurer of the OSN for the duration of his term as Treasurer - Corporate members who have made a donation of N10,000,000.00 ($74,071.00) or more shall automatically be qualified to be represented by a member on the OSNF Board.
- Individual members who have made a donation of N5,000,000.00 ($37,030.00) or more shall automatically qualify for a seat on the OSNF Board.
No member of the OSN Foundation Board shall receive any remuneration or reimbursement for any costs incurred by virtue of his/her attendance at a meeting of the Board the OSN Foundation Board shall seek and obtain registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as a charity organisation.
The first Chairperson of the OSN Foundation Board is Professor Adenike Abiose and the Secretary-Treasurer is Dr. Charles Bekibele.