Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has renewed its call for governments, educators, employers, healthcare providers, and communities across Africa to move beyond autism awareness and take deliberate, sustained action to build a more inclusive society for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
From Awareness to Action: GTCO Autism Conference Champions Inclusive Opportunities for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
For sixteen years, the GTCO Autism Conference has evolved from an annual awareness initiative into one of Africa’s foremost platforms for autism advocacy, professional knowledge exchange, and family empowerment. This year’s conference reaffirmed that while awareness has increased significantly over the years, meaningful inclusion requires coordinated actions across every sphere of society.
Held over two days at the MUSON Centre in Lagos and an additional 4 days of one-on-one consultation sessions, the 16th GTCO Autism Conference was themed “Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces.” The event convened international renowned autism specialists, behavioural analysts, medical professionals, educators, policymakers, employers, parents, caregivers and self-advocates from Nigeria and across the world to examine practical pathways for creating inclusive environments throughout every stage of life.
From Awareness to Impact
In his opening remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, Segun Agbaje, acknowledged the significant progress made in raising autism awareness but stressed that the next challenge is ensuring that awareness translates into measurable impact.
He called on governments, businesses, schools, healthcare institutions and families to work collaboratively to dismantle the barriers that continue to limit opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum, emphasizing that inclusion must become an everyday reality rather than a long-term aspiration.
Throughout the conference, leading experts shared evidence-based insights and practical strategies covering early diagnosis and intervention, communication development, inclusive education, employment, independent living and public policy. Their presentations combined global best practices with real-life experiences, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in improving outcomes for autistic individuals and their families.
Delivering the keynote address, Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Consultant, Dr. Bernadette Kilo urged stakeholders to bridge the gap between today’s realities and tomorrow’s possibilities by strengthening partnerships across healthcare, education and social services, particularly in expanding access to early diagnosis and intervention.
International Behaviour Analyst Tomi Agboola-Odeleye highlighted the transformative impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), demonstrating how timely access to communication tools enables non-verbal children to express themselves, build confidence and participate more meaningfully in everyday life.
Behaviour specialist Lanre Duyile encouraged parents, caregivers and educators to view behaviour as a form of communication rather than simply something to be corrected. He shared practical functional assessment techniques designed to improve support systems at home, in schools and within therapeutic settings.
International Behaviour Analyst Solape Azazi presented evidence-based approaches for strengthening communication skills, promoting emotional regulation and developing structured routines that foster learning, independence and long-term development for children on the autism spectrum.
Shifting the conversation to adulthood, Lawyer and Autism Advocate, Lola Dada-Olley underscored the urgent need to expand employment opportunities for autistic adults, calling on employers to adopt more inclusive recruitment practices and work place cultures where neurodiverse talent can thrive.
Beyond the expert presentations, the conference provided a valuable platform for open dialogue among families, professionals and advocates. Interactive panel sessions explored the realities of raising children on the spectrum, navigating inclusive education, accessing quality healthcare and preparing young people for independent adulthood. Across these discussions, one message consistently emerged: lasting inclusion can only be achieved through stronger collaboration among families, schools, healthcare systems, employers and policymakers.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading private-sector autism initiatives, the GTCO Autism Programme has, over the past sixteen years, grown beyond an annual conference into a year-round platform dedicated to professional development, specialist training, family support and public education. Thousands of families have benefited from its free consultations, expert-led workshops and practical intervention services.
While the conference has concluded, the programme continues with free multidisciplinary consultations taking place from July 29 to August 1 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. During the consultations, families will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with local and international autism specialists, therapists and medical professionals for personalized assessments, guidance and developmental support. The initiative will also extend to Ghana, further reinforcing GTCO’s commitment to expanding access to autism services across West Africa.
As the 16th GTCO Autism Conference drew to a close, its central message remained unmistakable: awareness has laid the foundation, but the future of autism inclusion will be defined by the collective willingness of governments, institutions, businesses and communities to transform acceptance into meaningful action.
