…OVER 5,000 FAMILIES ATTENDED CLINICS 15 YEARS
By Okosun Dennis
The 15th edition of the Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Autism Conference has kicked off with a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, 10th July, 2023.
Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact and people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently encounter challenges in communication and social interactions, which makes daily life tough and laborious.
The theme for this year’s conference is: “From Awareness to Action: 15 Years of Advancing Autism Inclusion,” which is aimed to galvanizing community support with a view to collaborating and highlighting the essential role it plays for individuals battling with ASD.
In his welcome remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO
Mr. Segun Agbaje, explained that the 15th-year milestone is a reaffirmation of the bank’s commitment to people living with ASD.
He noted that this year’s theme is a huge challenge to push for better systems and ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum are not just supported, but empowered, included and celebrated.
Agbaje appreciated the “Orange Ribbon Initiative” which began in 2009 as a commitment to advocate for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and support families and caregivers who nurture them.
During the press conference, several speakers with touching experiences or who their wards who lives with autism, experienced healthcare professionals and caregivers gave insights into the world of ASD.
According to the Chief Communication Officer at GTCO, Mrs. Oyinade Adegite, disclosed that many of the supporter of their initiatives are not medical doctors but professionals, who, over the years have garnered enormous experiences to handle such cases.
She disclosed that over the last 15 years of GTCO’s intervention, over 5,000 families have attended their clinic, adding that from the various conference, people feel more empowered and were taught how to handle their ASD children.
In her contribution, Osezusi Bolodeoku, Behaviour Analyst and Qualified Autism Services Practitioner calls for support systems for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In her view, “One of the biggest gaps we see in autism care is the absence of long term, structured intervention. Many families start interventions but struggle to sustain them due to financial constraints or a lack of professional support.
Therefore, “We need to move away from short bursts of therapy and build a system that supports individuals through every stage of development,” Bolodeoku reiterated.
However, while emphasizing the importance of grassroots initiatives an International Behaviourial Analyst and Founder Cradle Lounge, Solape Azazi, decried poor awareness creation, which she alluded to, was not enough.
“How can a mother with four children, working as a pepper seller, access specialized care that is only available once every three months in a central location?”
She disclosed that more advocacy are needed at the community level to create much awareness and understanding, adding that there is the need to engage policy makers at community level.
While speaking about the successes achieved during a community intervention in Ikoyi-Obalende Local Development Area, explained that such direct engagement with families led to the identification of over 20 children living with autism.
While stating that there is “no known cause of autism, but connected to brain condition,” Dr. Grace Bamgboye, a Consultant Speech-Language Pathologist, clarified that “it’s a condition where the brain processes information differently.”
She stressed that despite no known causes, there are some environmental factors, malnutrition, unprescribed drugs – “Agbo – from native herbs”, poor antenatal care, mismanagement during birth and CS section and use of wrong medication contribute to developmental delays.
Adding that Autism is a global phenomenon which is perceived differently, noted that GTCO has become a platform that have generated enormous awareness for parents who now have basic information on how to help their kids.
This year’s theme, “From Awareness to Action: 15 Years of Advancing Autism Inclusion,” reinforces GTCO’s longstanding commitment to autism advocacy, highlighting the need to move beyond awareness and drive lasting, inclusive change.
The two-day conference will hold between 15th and 16th July at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. There will also be a free one-on-one consultation clinic from July 17th to 19th, 2025 at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Lagos.
About The Author
