The Federal Government says it plans to establish an Autism Centre in the South-South zone as part of a broader effort to improve access to diagnosis, therapy and specialised support for children with autism and other developmental conditions.
The initiative is expected to serve as part of a wider plan to establish specialised Autism Centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from 2027.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday, saying the centres would help address the shortage of specialised services available to families in Nigeria.
Alausa said the government’s plan is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is aimed at strengthening inclusive education and improving support for children living with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other developmental conditions.
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He said the South-South centre would form part of the regional approach, with similar centres expected to follow in the other geopolitical zones.
“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.”
The minister said the proposed centres would provide diagnostic and therapeutic services, support research and serve as regional centres of excellence for families, professionals and educational institutions.
A major part of the government’s plan is also to increase the number of professionals available to provide specialised care.
According to Alausa, the number of Nigerian universities offering programmes in audiology, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy has increased from about four to nearly 16.
He said the government wants more institutions to offer the programmes to address the shortage of skilled personnel.
“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 expressed concern that many Nigerian families still travel abroad, including to neighbouring countries, to seek specialised care for children with autism and ADHD.
He described the situation as unacceptable and said the government was determined to build enough capacity locally.
“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.”
Alausa announced that from next year, universities offering relevant specialist programmes would receive targeted government support, including modern equipment, improved infrastructure and teaching materials.
He also said the Federal Ministry of Education had directed the National Board for Technical Education to speed up the accreditation of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the occupational therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
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According to him, the move would create a clearer pathway for students to progress from diploma-level training to bachelor’s degree programmes.
The minister said universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies would remain key partners in strengthening specialist training, research and innovation in autism care.
The planned regional centres are expected to bring specialised services closer to families, reduce the need for overseas treatment and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to support children with developmental conditions.
The government’s approach also highlights the need for closer cooperation between the education and health sectors, particularly in the areas of early diagnosis, intervention, therapy and inclusive education.
