The Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, Segun Agbaje, has said the organisation’s 16-year autism advocacy campaign had significantly improved public awareness but noted that the next phase must focus on meaningful inclusion, calling it 'a journey without destination.
Agbaje during the second day of the 16th Annual GTCO Autism Conference held in Lagos, where stakeholders stressed stronger government policies, inclusive education, workplace opportunities and community support systems as critical to improving the quality of life of persons living with autism, said; “Our journey over the last 16 years was to create awareness because too many families lived in denial, and i think we have largely achieved that".
“The next challenge is learning how to live with people on the spectrum, educating ourselves and making the journey easier for families.”
He described autism support as “a journey without a destination,” urging governments, schools, employers and communities to work together in creating opportunities for people living with autism. Agbaje also assured participants that the annual conference would continue beyond his tenure.
Also speaking at the conference themed “Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces," experts, healthcare professionals, educators, parents and disability advocates called for urgent action to move autism advocacy beyond awareness to practical inclusion, warning that thousands of Nigerians living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remain excluded from schools, workplaces and community life despite years of advocacy.
Founder of Cradle Lounge Special Needs Initiatives and autism advocate, Solape Azazi, challenged schools to move beyond merely admitting autistic children to creating learning environments where they can actively participate and succeed.
Drawing from her personal experience as the mother of a 12-year-old autistic son, she said many families continue to battle rejection, isolation, caregiver burnout and mental health challenges due to societal attitudes.
“Acceptance is a behaviour. It is choosing connection over correction,” she said.
“If your child doesn’t find acceptance at home, how can the child know what acceptance looks like outside?”
Azazi noted that children on the autism spectrum can excel academically when provided with the right educational support, adding that inclusive education requires continuous teacher training, collaboration between parents and educators, and classroom strategies tailored to different learning and communication needs.
Behaviour Analyst Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and evidence-based interventions, stressing that timely support significantly improves developmental outcomes for children with autism.
She advocated stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals, families, schools and government institutions to expand access to quality behavioural and developmental services nationwide.
International Behaviour Analyst Osezusi Bolodeoku emphasised that autism inclusion should extend beyond childhood into adulthood, urging employers to provide reasonable workplace accommodations while encouraging public institutions to make public spaces more accessible and sensory-friendly.
According to him, inclusion should become part of everyday community life rather than occasional advocacy campaigns.
Disability advocate Afeez Abdul Rasaq challenged prevailing misconceptions surrounding autism and called on governments to implement disability-friendly programmes that guarantee access to education, employment and public services for neurodiverse persons.
He urged employers to deliberately recruit persons living with autism and other disabilities, insisting that inclusion should be viewed as a national development priority rather than an act of charity.
“We all have disabilities. The only difference is the severity,” he said.
Throughout the conference, speakers unanimously agreed that autism acceptance must translate into practical actions that strengthen family support systems, expand inclusive education, improve employment opportunities and provide greater access to early diagnosis, specialised care and mental health services.
As part of the conference activities, GTCO announced free one-on-one consultations with developmental and medical specialists from July 29 to August 1 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. The initiative will offer families access to behavioural analysts, speech therapists, occupational therapists, developmental psychiatrists, psychologists and parent counselling services.
The annual conference remains part of GTCO’s broader commitment to advancing autism awareness, acceptance and inclusion across Nigeria and the West African region through sustained advocacy, education and professional support.