The initiative is designed to provide greater support for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, while creating a platform for stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to challenges faced by people on the spectrum.
The conference, themed “Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces,” will hold on July 27 and 28 at the Muson Centre, Lagos.
It will be followed by four days of free one-on-one consultations with medical and developmental specialists from July 29 to August 1 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
Experts noted that although awareness of autism has increased significantly in Nigeria over the past decade, many children and adults living on the spectrum continue to experience discrimination and exclusion in homes, schools, workplaces and public spaces. They argued that the country’s focus must now shift from merely recognising autism to creating supportive environments where individuals with the condition can participate fully in society.
The annual initiative will bring together autism specialists, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, parents and caregivers to discuss practical approaches to improving the quality of life of people living with ASD.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said the programme had grown from a platform focused on awareness creation into a movement advocating for meaningful inclusion.
“16 years ago, we set out to help families navigate a journey that too often felt isolating. Today, this programme stands as proof of what sustained commitment can achieve,” Agbaje said.
He explained that this year’s edition would focus on turning conversations about autism into measurable action across different sectors of society.
"Acceptance in Action’ challenges all of us to move beyond good intentions and make inclusion visible in the way we raise our families, teach in our classrooms, build our workplaces and welcome one another in public spaces,” he said.
According to him, creating an inclusive society requires the combined efforts of families, schools, businesses and government institutions.
“No single institution can build an inclusive society alone. It takes families willing to advocate, educators willing to adapt, employers willing to open doors and policymakers willing to act,” Agbaje added.
Acceptance Remains Nigeria’s Biggest Autism Challenge
Behavioural specialists at the briefing noted that although autism awareness has improved significantly, acceptance remains a major barrier preventing many people on the spectrum from reaching their full potential.
Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and psychologist, Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, said society must move beyond identifying autism to creating environments where people with the condition are supported.
“We’ve done a lot of awareness. People now have an idea of what autism is. But acceptance happens in the community. Inclusion is action, not words,” she said.
Nwokolo described autism as an “unseen disability,” explaining that many individuals experience discrimination because their challenges are not always physically visible.
“You don’t see autism physically, but you see its impact on behaviour. Because people cannot see it, they often assume the child is stubborn or badly behaved, or that the adult is rude or difficult,” she said.
She explained that autistic children often face rejection in educational settings, while adults may encounter similar difficulties when seeking employment or trying to thrive in workplaces.
“An autistic employee may communicate differently or struggle with social interactions. Instead of asking what support the person needs, employers often label them difficult. That is why acceptance is so important,” she said.
The behavioural specialist urged governments to expand disability policies to recognise invisible disabilities such as autism and ensure that parents, professionals and affected individuals are involved in developing relevant programmes.
Family Acceptance Begins With Seeing the Child, Not the Diagnosis
Founder of Cradle Lounge Special Needs Initiative and International Behaviour Analyst, Mrs. Solape Azazi, said acceptance must begin at home, noting that families play a critical role in shaping how society treats people living with autism.
“The first thing parents must do is meet the child where the child is. Don’t see the diagnosis first; see your child first,” she said.
Azazi noted that some parents still struggle with guilt, self-blame or misconceptions after receiving an autism diagnosis, which can delay access to intervention and support.
She encouraged families to embrace their children fully, stressing that parental acceptance often influences wider community attitudes.
“When families accept their children, communities begin to learn acceptance too,” she said.
L-R: Cornelius Onuoha, Managing Director, RedGecko PR Ltd; Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst; Solape Azazi, International Behaviour Analyst; Oluwatosin Onobanjo, Corporate Communications Officer, GTCO Plc; and Osezusi Bolodeoku, International Behaviour Analyst, during the media briefing for the 16th Annual GTCO Autism Conference held in Lagos on Wednesday.
Advocacy Changing Attitudes in Communities
Nwokolo highlighted the impact of public education programmes, recalling the story of a mother who gained a new understanding of her child after attending one of GTCO’s community sensitisation initiatives.
“She came out crying and said, ‘I will go home now and look at my child differently.’ She realised, after more than 30 years, that her son was autistic. That is what acceptance can do, it changes lives,” she recalled.
She also revealed that advocacy efforts following an incident involving a child on the autism spectrum led to autism awareness training for airport personnel.
The child had been shouted at by security officials who misunderstood behaviours associated with autism.
“We realised that awareness must extend beyond families. People working in airports, hospitals, schools and other public places need to understand autism because these are everyday environments where families face discrimination,” she said.
GTCO Calls for Compassion and Understanding
Chief Communication Officer of GTCO, Mrs. Oyinade Ogunade, said acceptance often begins with simple acts of empathy and understanding.
“Sometimes survival makes us lose our humanity. We may not be able to solve everyone’s problems, but we can choose compassion instead of judgement,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to show greater patience when interacting with children with autism, particularly in public spaces where behaviours linked to sensory overload may be misunderstood.
Experts noted that although Nigeria has made notable gains in improving autism awareness, the next priority should be building a society where people on the spectrum are supported rather than sidelined because of differences they cannot control.
They said the GTCO conference would serve as a platform for parents, professionals, employers and policymakers to share ideas and develop practical strategies for promoting inclusion across schools, workplaces and communities.
According to them, the free consultation sessions would further enable families to access expert evaluations, early intervention services and professional guidance needed to better support individuals living with autism.
The experts emphasised that for many families navigating autism, acceptance is the starting point for recognising the abilities, building the confidence and unlocking the full potential of every person on the spectrum.