The Federal Government says it will establish autism centres across the six geopolitical zones in 2027 to expand access to specialised care, strengthen research and address shortages in critical areas of professional training.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, disclosed this during an engagement with stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr Alausa said the proposed centres would provide diagnosis, therapy and research services while offering support to families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions.
He said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to address the shortage of specialists in audiology, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy.
According to the minister, the number of Nigerian universities offering programmes in the specialised fields has increased from four to about 16 under the ongoing reforms.
“The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, is supporting this by expanding the number of institutions offering programmes in audiology, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
“We have moved from four universities to about 16 universities, but we want even more institutions to train the manpower needed to support these essential services,” he said.
Mr Alausa said the government would begin targeted interventions in 2027 to strengthen universities offering the specialised programmes.
He said the interventions would include the expansion of infrastructure and the provision of modern equipment and instructional materials to increase the institutions’ capacity to train specialists.
The minister noted that many Nigerian families still travelled abroad to access specialised care for children with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, due to 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,” he said.
Mr Alausa also said the Federal Ministry of Education had directed the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, to fast-track the accreditation of the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the occupational therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
He said the move would create a seamless academic pathway from diploma to bachelor’s degree while strengthening professional development and career progression in occupational therapy.
The minister commended universities that had introduced programmes in the specialised fields, describing their efforts as critical to building the workforce required to improve care and support for children with developmental conditions.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies to expand specialist training, strengthen institutional capacity and promote research and innovation in autism care.
Mr Alausa said the initiative, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would improve access to quality diagnosis, therapy and inclusive education for children living with autism, ADHD and other developmental conditions.
NAN
