GTCO to push Nigeria beyond autism awareness to acceptance as it holds 16th Annual Confab

After nearly two decades of driving regional public health advocacy, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) is urging Nigerian society to move past baseline autism awareness toward structured, everyday inclusion.

At the press conference of its 16th Annual Autism Conference in Lagos, medical experts, behavioural therapists, and corporate leaders argued that while public recognition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has grown significantly, many individuals on the spectrum continue to face severe discrimination, social isolation, and systemic barriers across homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

The development comes against the backdrop of critical public health challenges across Africa. Global data indicates that Autism Spectrum Disorder affects approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide.

However, in Nigeria, where over 60 percent of the population is under the age of 25, the true prevalence remains obscured by widespread under-diagnosis, limited specialized healthcare infrastructure, and deeply rooted socio-cultural myths.

For millions of families navigating ASD, the primary burden is no longer just securing a formal diagnosis, but managing the public judgment, stigma, and lack of support systems that follow.

From Awareness to Acceptance

This year’s conference, themed “Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces,” signals a deliberate shift from educating the public on what autism is to enforcing practical, structural inclusion.

Segun Agbaje, noted that the initiative—launched 16 years ago under the bank’s flagship CSR framework, the Orange Ribbon Initiative—has evolved into West Africa’s premier platform for autism advocacy.

“Sixteen 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. “This year’s theme challenges all of us to move past good intentions and start making inclusion visible—in the way we design our schools, structure our workplaces, and welcome one another in public spaces.”

Agbaje emphasized that building an inclusive society cannot rest on the shoulders of corporate social responsibility alone. “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.”

Echoing these views, Oyinade Adegite, Chief Communications Officer at GTCO Plc, pointed out that because autism is a non-visible neurodevelopmental condition, public misunderstanding remains one of the largest obstacles to integration.

“Awareness is important, but acceptance is what truly changes lives. Acceptance is not a complicated idea—sometimes it simply means creating space for someone else,” Adegite explained.

“You do not see autism physically, but you see its impact on behaviour. Because people cannot see it, they often assume a child is stubborn or badly behaved, or that an adult is difficult.”

Over the years, the GTCO Autism Programme has become a leading platform for Autism advocacy and inclusion across West Africa, bringing together healthcare professionals, therapists, educators, policymakers, caregivers, and families to foster greater understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

Through sustained engagement and collaboration, the programme has helped advance conversations around acceptance, accessibility, and the support systems required to improve outcomes for individuals on the spectrum.

This year’s theme, “Acceptance in Action,” reflects the need to move beyond awareness towards creating environments where individuals on the Autism spectrum are supported, and empowered at home, in school, in workplace, and public spaces.

The 2026 programme will feature expert-led discussions, workshops, and free consultation sessions delivered by leading local and international specialists in developmental and behavioural sciences, covering key areas such as early intervention, behavioural therapy, communication strategies, inclusive education, and caregiver support.