The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is working towards the establishment of specialised autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to improve access to professional care, early diagnosis, rehabilitation and research.
The proposed facilities are expected to be located in selected university medical schools, where they could combine healthcare delivery with academic research and the training of professionals equipped to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
The plan moved forward in Abuja with the inauguration of a committee by TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono.
The committee will develop a framework outlining how the centres should be established, funded and sustained to ensure they deliver meaningful benefits to affected individuals and their families.
The initiative is expected to build on TETFund’s existing Special High Impact Intervention for medical schools, extending the fund’s support towards specialised services for people who require autism-related care.
Under the proposed arrangement, the centres would provide opportunities for early identification of autism, treatment, rehabilitation and scientific research.
They would also support professional training and offer assistance to families and caregivers who need guidance in managing the developmental and healthcare needs associated with the condition.
2027 intervention to determine funding prospects
Echono disclosed that the proposed autism centres were being considered for support under TETFund’s planned 2027 Special Intervention.
However, he explained that the proposal would depend on the outcome of the committee’s work, the availability of financial resources and the necessary approvals.
The committee’s recommendations are expected to provide a basis for determining the institutions suitable to host the facilities, the resources required and the practical steps needed to implement the initiative.
Echono urged members to approach the assignment with careful consideration of the circumstances and capabilities of prospective host institutions.
He said the selection process should take into account geographical distribution, existing infrastructure, available personnel and each institution’s capacity to maintain the centres over time.
These considerations are expected to guide the committee in identifying universities capable of providing the necessary environment for specialised autism services.
The committee has also been asked to develop realistic financial estimates and implementation plans.
This would help establish the likely cost of the proposed facilities and provide a clearer picture of the resources required to operate them effectively.
The emphasis on sustainability suggests that the planning process will need to consider not only the initial establishment of the centres but also the requirements for maintaining their services in the years ahead.
Committee chair highlights gaps in autism care
Chairperson of the committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, said the initiative was intended to address difficulties associated with delayed autism diagnosis and limited access to specialised care.
Her remarks highlighted the importance of developing facilities that can respond to the needs of individuals with autism while providing families with access to appropriate professional support.
Early identification is a major consideration in autism care because recognising developmental differences promptly can help individuals access suitable interventions and support based on their needs.
Adejuyigbe said the proposed centres should prioritise early intervention, research, professional training, community inclusion and sustainability.
She also stressed that autism care requires the participation of professionals from different disciplines, given the range of developmental, communication, educational and healthcare needs that individuals may experience.
According to her, the centres would require a multidisciplinary workforce comprising paediatricians, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and special educators.
Bringing these professionals together would provide a stronger foundation for coordinated care, enabling individuals to receive support suited to their circumstances rather than relying on a single approach.
The availability of trained personnel will therefore be an important consideration in determining the readiness of prospective host institutions.
Schools and families to play important roles
Beyond medical facilities and professional expertise, the committee chairperson emphasised the need to involve families, schools and community-based institutions in the broader framework.
She called for collaboration with primary healthcare facilities, parents’ associations, schools and families to strengthen early identification and improve public understanding of autism.
Such partnerships could help connect specialised services within universities to communities where parents and caregivers may need information, guidance and referrals.
Adejuyigbe also identified stigma as an issue that must be addressed as part of efforts to improve autism awareness and inclusion.
Greater cooperation between healthcare professionals, educators and families could help promote a more supportive environment for people with autism while encouraging communities to understand their individual needs.
The proposed centres are therefore expected to be considered not simply as treatment facilities but also as potential platforms for research, professional development and wider engagement with families and communities.
However, the extent to which these objectives will be achieved will depend on the final framework and the arrangements approved for implementation.
Sustainability identified as a major concern
Adejuyigbe warned that the long-term success of the initiative would depend on careful planning for recurrent expenditure, equipment maintenance and effective monitoring.
She indicated that establishing the centres would not, by itself, guarantee lasting improvements in autism care unless the facilities could continue to operate efficiently and provide the services for which they were created.
Adequate planning for equipment, staffing and operational costs would therefore be essential to maintaining service delivery beyond the initial phase.
Monitoring arrangements would also be important in assessing whether the centres were meeting their objectives and making a meaningful difference to individuals and families.
The committee is expected to incorporate these concerns into its recommendations, alongside proposals on suitable locations, infrastructure, staffing and financial requirements.
Adejuyigbe said the ultimate measure of success should be the positive impact of the facilities on the lives of people with autism and those who care for them.
“Our success must not be measured merely by the number of centres established, but by the number of individuals and families whose lives are positively transformed,” she said.
The committee’s work will help determine the structure and requirements of the proposed intervention before any final implementation decisions are taken.
If approved, the initiative would provide a framework for expanding specialised autism services through selected university medical schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
For now, the proposal remains subject to the committee’s recommendations, funding availability and the required approvals under TETFund’s planned 2027 Special Intervention.
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