Ekiti State government has restated its unalloyed commitment to campaigns aimed at dispelling misconceptions and fostering inclusivity for individuals with autism in the State by ensuring adequate support in the area of finance, healthcare and manpower.
The Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, Mr Niyi Adebayo, stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while leading an autism awareness and sensitization campaign walk to commemorate the 2026 World Autism Day. He called on parents with such special children to bring them out for necessary attention stressing that there is still hope for them to live a meaningful life.
“We have therapists, teachers we have well-trained qualified personnel who can diagnose these children, examine them, and then tell us what the conditions are, and we can start working with them on how to move them towards being normal. And there are records all over the world of children who have autism, who later became normal or near normal such that if you didn’t know their history before, you may not even know they were autistic.”
While x-raying the theme for this year’s celebration, “Spark the Spectrum” Adebayo stressed the need for governments and stakeholders to move beyond mere awareness advocacy to strengthen diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services for children and adults on the spectrum.
Adebayo called on all stakeholders to foster a culture of inclusivity, as a departure to persistent discrimination against individuals with autism, particularly in education, healthcare, and employment. He pledged increase government’s funding and policy support to strengthen diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services for children and adults on the spectrum with the aim of creating a society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
He also thanked Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his support for the Special Education and Social Inclusion Agency led by Princess Adetoun Agboola, who, according to him, continues to do an excellent job supporting those who are living with different conditions of autism in Ekiti State.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola commended Governor Oyebanji for being an ardent supporter of Persons with Disabilities with the introduction of many initiatives that ensure that they are well included in the society.
She said the annual autism day is designed to create awareness by reminding the society to respond with compassion and concrete action to support autistic children.
Agboola, who revealed plans to expand early screening services, said Ekiti State has achieved a major milestone in the training of about 50 staff to carry out effective screening for autism, noting that screening is different from diagnosing.
The awareness walk took place from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Complex to the Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities, Old Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.
Top government officials who participated in the awareness walk included a member of House Representatives, Hon Akin Rotimi; Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); Comrade Olatunde Kolapo; members of the state executive council including Commissioners for Finance, Mr Akintunde Oyebode; Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani; Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi; the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Special Adviser OTSD, Dr Moyo Ekundayo; and Special Adviser Special Projects, Bunmi Talabi; among others.