By Felix Khanoba
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has unveiled a sweeping reform package aimed at overhauling autism care in Nigeria, with plans to establish six regional Autism Centres and significantly expand the country’s specialist workforce to reduce dependence on treatment abroad.
Alausa announced the initiative during a stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday, describing it as a strategic intervention to address the shortage of professionals in Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
According to the minister, the number of universities offering the specialised programmes has risen from about four to nearly 16 under the ongoing reforms, with the government planning to extend the programmes to more tertiary institutions nationwide.
A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Ikharo Attah, said the minister revealed that the initiative is designed to improve access to quality diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation services for children living with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental conditions.
Alausa explained that the Federal Government is prioritising investment in human capital to ensure that families can increasingly obtain specialised care within Nigeria instead of seeking treatment overseas.
“Our 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 about four universities to almost sixteen universities, but we want even more institutions to train the manpower needed to support these essential services,” he said.
Speaking further, the minister expressed concern that many Nigerian families still travel outside the country, including to neighbouring nations, to obtain specialised care for children with autism and ADHD because of inadequate 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 added.
To strengthen specialist training, Alausa disclosed that beginning next year, universities running the relevant programmes will benefit from targeted Federal Government interventions, including expanded infrastructure, modern equipment and improved instructional materials to increase enrolment and training capacity.
He also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education has directed the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to accelerate the accreditation process for the Federal School of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy diploma programme at the University of Benin.
The move, he said, is intended to create a seamless academic pathway from diploma to bachelor’s degree while strengthening professional career development.
The minister commended universities that have introduced specialised programmes aligned with the government’s policy direction, describing their contributions as vital to building the skilled workforce needed to improve care for children with developmental disorders.
As part of the broader reform agenda, Alausa announced that six Autism Centres would be established across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones from 2027 to provide specialised diagnostic and therapeutic services, support research and serve as regional centres of excellence.
“In 2027, we will open Autism Centres across the six geopolitical zones. These centres will focus on diagnosis, therapy and research to better support the needs of our citizens,” the minister said.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with universities, regulatory agencies and professional bodies to expand specialist education, strengthen institutional capacity and promote research and innovation in autism care.
According to the minister, the reforms are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and are intended to ensure that children living with autism, ADHD and other developmental conditions have access to quality diagnosis, therapy, inclusive education and improved opportunities to reach their full potential.
