- FG to Open Six Regional Autism Centres in 2027 – Dr Tunji Alausa
- Increases Specialist Training to 16 Universities
- Moves to End Medical Tourism for Autism Care
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish Autism Centres in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen diagnosis, therapy and specialist care for children living with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental conditions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement, where he also unveiled a series of reforms aimed at addressing the shortage of professionals in Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
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According to the minister, the number of universities offering the specialised programmes has increased from about four to nearly 16 under the Federal Government’s ongoing education reforms.
He said the government would continue to expand the programmes to more tertiary institutions to meet the growing demand for specialists capable of supporting children with developmental conditions.
Alausa said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to improve access to quality healthcare, inclusive education and rehabilitation services for vulnerable Nigerians.
He noted that many families are still compelled to travel abroad or to neighbouring countries in search of specialised autism care because of limited local capacity.
“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,” the minister said.
To bridge the manpower gap, Alausa said the Federal Government would begin targeted interventions in universities offering the specialised programmes from next year.
According to him, the interventions will include the expansion of infrastructure, provision of modern equipment and teaching materials to increase the institutions’ capacity to train professionals in Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has directed the National Board for Technical Education to fast-track the accreditation of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
He explained that the move is intended to create a seamless academic pathway from diploma to bachelor’s degree while strengthening professional career development in the field.
Alausa commended universities that have introduced the specialised programmes, describing their efforts as critical to building the workforce required to improve outcomes for children with autism and other developmental disorders.
He further announced that the proposed Autism Centres, expected to commence operations in 2027, would provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services, promote research and serve as regional centres of excellence for families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions.
“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 Government’s commitment to working with universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies to strengthen specialist training, expand institutional capacity and promote research and innovation in autism care across the country.
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