The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform autism care and support services in Nigeria with the establishment of six regional Autism Centres and a massive expansion of specialist training programmes in universities across the country.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced that the centres, to be established across the six geopolitical zones beginning in 2027, will serve as regional hubs for diagnosis, therapy, research and professional support for children living with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental conditions.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to address the acute shortage of highly skilled professionals in Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy, while reducing the need for Nigerian families to seek specialised care abroad.
Speaking during an engagement with stakeholders in Alausa, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, disclosed that the number of universities offering specialised programmes in Audiology, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy has increased from about four to nearly 16 under the ongoing education sector reforms.
He said the Federal Government is determined to expand the programmes to more tertiary institutions to produce the skilled workforce required to meet the growing demand for quality services for children with developmental disorders.
“Our Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, is supporting this by expanding the number of institutions offering programmes in Audiology, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
“We have moved from about four universities to almost sixteen universities, but we want even more institutions to train the manpower needed to support these essential services,” the minister said.
Alausa lamented that many Nigerian families still travel to neighbouring countries and other parts of the world in search of specialised care for children with autism and ADHD because of inadequate local capacity, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“Today, many families still have to travel outside Nigeria to access care for their autistic children. This is not acceptable, and the Federal Government is determined to change that,” he stated.
To strengthen local capacity, the minister announced that from next year, the Federal Government would begin targeted interventions in universities offering the specialised programmes.
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According to the Minister, the support would include the expansion of infrastructure, provision of modern equipment and teaching materials to significantly increase the institutions’ training capacity.
He also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education has directed the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to fast-track the accreditation of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
He further stated that the move would create a seamless academic pathway from diploma to bachelor’s degree while strengthening career opportunities for professionals in the field.
Alausa commended universities that have aligned with the Federal Government’s policy direction by introducing the specialised programmes, describing their contributions as crucial to building the human capital needed to improve care for children with developmental conditions.
He further disclosed that the planned Autism Centres would not only provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services but also promote research, innovation and professional development while serving as centres of excellence for healthcare providers, educational institutions and families.
“In 2027, we will open Autism Centres across the six geopolitical zones. These centres will focus on diagnosis, therapy and research to better support the needs of our citizens,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to working closely with universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies to expand specialist training, strengthen institutional capacity and advance research and innovation in autism care.
He noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that every Nigerian child living with autism, ADHD and other developmental conditions has access to quality diagnosis, therapy, inclusive education and the opportunity to realise their full potential.
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