By Adeola Kunle
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving support for children living with autism and other developmental conditions through plans to establish six specialised Autism Centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, beginning in 2027.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said the initiative would strengthen access to diagnosis, therapy, research and professional support while reducing the need for Nigerian families to travel abroad in search of specialised care.
The centres are expected to serve as regional centres of excellence, providing essential services to families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions supporting children with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental conditions.
According to the Minister, the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to address the shortage of qualified professionals in Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
Dr Alausa disclosed that the number of Nigerian universities offering specialised programmes in these fields had increased from approximately four to nearly 16 under ongoing education sector reforms. He stressed, however, that more tertiary institutions would need to introduce the programmes to meet the growing demand for qualified specialists.
He explained that expanding professional training was essential to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to provide appropriate care and support for children with developmental conditions.
The Minister expressed concern that many Nigerian families continued to travel to other countries, including neighbouring nations, to access specialised services because of limited local capacity. He described the situation as unacceptable and assured Nigerians that the government was determined to improve access to these services within the country.
To accelerate the development of local expertise, Dr Alausa announced that targeted support would be provided to universities offering the specialised programmes from 2027. The intervention would cover infrastructure expansion, modern equipment and instructional materials to improve training facilities and increase the number of qualified professionals.
He also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education had directed the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to expedite the accreditation of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
The proposed accreditation would establish a more seamless academic progression from diploma qualifications to bachelor’s degrees, while creating stronger opportunities for professional development and career advancement in Occupational Therapy.
Dr Alausa commended universities that had already introduced the specialised programmes, noting that their contributions were important to building the skilled workforce required to improve services for children with autism and related developmental conditions.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies to expand specialist education, strengthen institutional capacity and encourage research and innovation in autism care.
The Minister emphasised that the planned centres and expanded training programmes would complement one another by improving access to services while ensuring that Nigeria develops the professionals needed to sustain them.
He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on human capital development, inclusive education and improved access to essential services.
The Federal Government’s objective, he said, is to ensure that Nigerian children living with autism, ADHD and other developmental conditions have better access to quality diagnosis, appropriate therapy, inclusive learning opportunities and the support necessary to realise their full potential.
The planned establishment of the six regional centres, alongside investments in specialist training, represents a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to provide comprehensive and accessible developmental care.
Adeola Kunle
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