The 16th Guaranty Trust Holding Company Autism Conference, held recently, reinforced the need for Nigeria to move beyond creating awareness about autism to building an education system that truly supports inclusion. Bringing together educators, behavioural specialists, therapists, caregivers and employers, the conference emphasised the critical role of schools and families in helping children on the autism spectrum to develop the communication, social and life skills needed to succeed. Funmi Ogundare reports
Sixteen years ago, conversations about autism in Nigeria were largely confined to whispers. Many families hid their children from public view, fearful of stigma, discrimination and misunderstanding. A diagnosis was often met with denial, while schools, workplaces and even healthcare providers had limited understanding of the condition.
Today, that narrative is slowly changing. Parents are increasingly seeking diagnoses, schools are beginning to embrace inclusive education, and organisations are creating platforms for conversations around neurodiversity. Yet, as experts recently converged on the Muson Centre, Lagos, for the 16th Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Autism Conference, they observed that awareness alone is no longer enough. The challenge now is translating awareness into action.
