Navigating the bustling streets of Lagos is notoriously difficult, with uneven pavements and unpredictable traffic turning daily travel into a test of patience. For the estimated seven million Nigerians living with blindness or visual impairments, these challenges are even more daunting, as the city’s infrastructure seldom accommodates their specific mobility needs. Moreover, assistive technologies available to them are frequently either too expensive or poorly adapted to the local environment.
The Genesis of EyeGuide
Charles Ayere, a software developer based in Lagos, was deeply moved by the difficulties faced by a close friend with visual impairment. Motivated by her daily struggles, he created EyeGuide, an innovative navigation application that leverages the LiDAR sensor on iPhones to help visually impaired users detect obstacles, recognize nearby people, and move through their surroundings with greater assurance.
Ayere’s journey into technology was unconventional. Although he graduated with a degree in Sociology from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), his interest in technology blossomed during his final year, prompting him to explore various tech projects. Since completing his studies in 2018, he has built a career in tech, currently serving as CTO at an AI-driven digital marketing firm and leading web development at the Lagos-based fintech startup Sofri.
Creating a Dependable Navigation Solution
The concept for EyeGuide emerged in early 2024 when Ayere began investigating how existing technologies could be repurposed to enhance accessibility for the visually impaired. Drawing inspiration from automotive sensors that detect nearby objects, he wondered why similar tools weren’t available to assist those with vision loss. His research introduced him to LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), a technology he identified as ideal for developing a reliable, locally tailored navigation aid.
Initially, Ayere experimented with the iPhone’s dual and triple camera systems using stereoscopic imaging methods. However, these early versions were inconsistent, often mistaking paintings for people or failing to detect transparent barriers like glass doors. “The camera-based approach was unreliable,” Ayere admits. “It frequently produced false alarms.”
Recognizing the need for precision, he shifted his focus to LiDAR technology. Unlike cameras, LiDAR emits laser pulses that bounce off surfaces and measure the time taken to return, enabling the creation of a detailed 3D map of the environment-even in complete darkness. This sensor is integrated into iPhone Pro models starting with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro released from 2020 onward.
EyeGuide operates entirely on the user’s device, ensuring privacy by neither storing nor transmitting data externally. Once activated, the app scans the surroundings and provides audio cues such as “turn left,” “turn right,” or “obstacle ahead,” complemented by vibrations that intensify as objects draw nearer. It measures distances in meters and can even detect people nearby. Users navigate the app using the iPhone’s volume buttons, and scanning automatically pauses when the device is idle.
Collaborating with the Visually Impaired Community
From the outset, Ayere emphasized the importance of co-developing EyeGuide with input from the blind community rather than working in isolation. He partnered closely with visually impaired individuals in Yaba, conducting hands-on testing and refining features such as vibration intensity and audio feedback based on their experiences. This collaborative approach remains a cornerstone of the app’s ongoing evolution.
Abiodun Joseph, a Lagos resident and EyeGuide user, shared his thoughts: “Using EyeGuide was a positive experience. The vibrations and alerts worked well, though I felt they could be a bit softer.” He tested the app by walking along his street, deliberately approaching walls and gutters. “It consistently warned me when I was near obstacles,” he noted. However, he expressed concerns about the app’s effectiveness in crowded environments, fearing it might be overwhelmed by too many signals. “If the sensitivity could be lowered in busy areas, that would be helpful.”
In response, Ayere introduced adjustable sensitivity settings, allowing users to customize how close they want to be before receiving alerts. “User feedback is invaluable,” he emphasizes. “Improving EyeGuide is an ongoing journey.”
Broadening Accessibility Options
Currently, EyeGuide is available only on iOS devices, but Ayere aims to expand its reach. He is developing prototypes of smart glasses that connect to the app via Bluetooth. These glasses utilize ultrasonic sensors, which are more affordable and energy-efficient than LiDAR, making the technology accessible to Android users who prefer not to carry their phones visibly.
Integrating LiDAR into Android devices is challenging due to the variety of hardware and the high cost of embedding such sensors into eyewear. “Affordability is key to reaching a broader audience,” Ayere explains. “That’s why I’m focusing on compact, budget-friendly sensors.”
This emphasis on cost-effectiveness reflects the Nigerian context, where assistive devices are often priced beyond the reach of many. For example, a WeWALK Smart Cane retails locally for about ₦752,000, while simpler imported models cost around ₦90,000-both figures far exceeding the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 (roughly $48). Without government support, many rely on manual aids.
A Vision Rooted in Inclusion, Not Profit
EyeGuide is currently free to download and will remain so. “Accessibility should be as fundamental as access to clean water,” Ayere asserts. “It must never be a luxury.” While the forthcoming smart glasses will carry a price to cover production expenses, Ayere views this as a means to give back rather than to profit.
Users have suggested features like real-time currency recognition and live location sharing to allow family members to track their whereabouts. These ideas are under review. Additionally, Ayere is exploring AI integration to enhance object detection, though he intends to keep the app functional offline to accommodate users with limited internet connectivity.
EyeGuide currently supports over 600 active users, with plans to expand to between 2,000 and 3,000 worldwide in the near future.
Bridging the Accessibility Divide
Despite Nigeria‘s 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, which mandates accessible public infrastructure and allowed a five-year compliance window, much of the country remains inaccessible. Enforcement is weak, and penalties for non-compliance are minimal. Features such as ramps, tactile paving, and other accessibility accommodations remain scarce nationwide.
This challenge extends across Africa. Only about 15 to 25 percent of those requiring assistive technology have access, hindered by high import costs and limited local manufacturing. “Accessibility is often overlooked continent-wide,” Ayere observes. “Even educational institutions lack awareness about accommodating people with disabilities.” His friend’s university experience underscores this gap: “She depends on a few tools she knows about. Most schools don’t provide accessible materials, and only a handful of students are tech-savvy enough to find alternatives. What about the rest?”
Nonetheless, a new generation of African innovators is rising to meet these challenges. From Kenya to Rwanda, developers are creating inclusive solutions tailored to local needs rather than adapting foreign products. In Kenya, Hope Tech+ introduced the Fourth Eye, an echolocation-based device used by over 1,200 people across six countries. Rwanda’s first locally produced Smart White Cane, developed with UNDP’s Rwanda Accelerator Lab, employs ultrasonic sensors to alert users to obstacles. Platforms like Accesstech’s GiveTechToTheBlind connect donors with visually impaired individuals, creating new distribution channels where traditional markets fall short.
These initiatives represent more than technological progress-they signify a shift in who designs assistive tools and for whom. Ayere views EyeGuide as part of this transformative wave. “I’ve been inspired by stories of African developers crafting impactful solutions,” he says. “I want to contribute to that narrative.”
Through EyeGuide, Ayere hopes to reshape societal attitudes toward accessibility and encourage policymakers to recognize the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
For him, the mission transcends innovation-it’s about fostering genuine inclusion. “Accessibility must be integrated from the start,” he insists. “We need to collaborate with people, not just build for them.”