TETFund to establish specialised autism centres in medical schools nationwide

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has inaugurated a national committee to develop a framework for establishing international-standard autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, in a move aimed at expanding access to specialised care, strengthening research and improving support for individuals with autism and their families.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Thursday, charging its members to develop practical, evidence-based and sustainable recommendations to guide the proposed establishment of the centres in selected university medical schools.

Echono said the initiative would build on the gains of the Special High Impact Intervention for medical schools, which is upgrading infrastructure and equipment for training professionals in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and related disciplines.

He explained that the proposed centres would provide early diagnosis, developmental assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, research and professional training, while promoting public awareness and supporting families and caregivers.

According to him, establishing the facilities across the six geopolitical zones would expand access to specialised autism services, strengthen local expertise and reduce the burden on families who travel long distances in search of appropriate care.

Echono disclosed that the centres were being considered for support under the proposed 2027 TETFund Special Intervention, subject to the committee’s findings, the identification of eligible institutions, resource availability and the necessary approvals.

He urged the committee to ensure that its recommendations were backed by comprehensive needs assessments, realistic cost estimates, appropriate technical specifications, measurable deliverables and credible sustainability plans.

The Executive Secretary also emphasised the need for transparent, evidence-based criteria for selecting host institutions, including geographical spread, existing medical and academic facilities, human resource capacity, institutional commitment and the ability to sustain the centres over time.

He further urged the committee to expedite its work, particularly the identification of suitable institutions and the assessment of their needs, to enable the necessary provisions to be considered in the 2027 intervention budget.

Responding, the chairperson of the committee and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe, described the assignment as a significant step towards building a coordinated, accessible and sustainable system of autism care, research and community support in Nigeria.

Adejuyigbe, a paediatrician with decades of experience in child health, observed that many Nigerian families raising children with autism continue to face delayed diagnosis due to denial, limited access to specialised services, financial constraints and inadequate professional support.

She said the committee’s work would be guided by five key pillars: clinical services and early intervention; research and innovation; training and capacity building; community engagement and inclusion; and sustainability and quality assurance.

The chairperson stressed that the proposed centres must go beyond providing clinical services to generate locally relevant research, strengthen professional capacity and promote a better understanding of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions within the Nigerian and African contexts.

She noted that research into the prevalence of autism in Nigeria and the factors that may influence neurodevelopment would be critical to generating evidence that could inform public policy, improve clinical practice and contribute to global scientific knowledge.

Adejuyigbe also called for the development of a competent multidisciplinary workforce, including paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, special educators and other relevant professionals.

On community engagement, she emphasised the importance of collaboration with primary healthcare facilities, schools, teachers, community health workers, religious and traditional leaders, parents’ associations, autistic individuals and their families to promote early identification, appropriate referrals, caregiver empowerment and the reduction of stigma.

She warned against establishing facilities without clear plans for their long-term operation, insisting that sustainability, governance, financing, equipment maintenance, monitoring and evaluation must be incorporated into the committee’s recommendations from the outset.

“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, the communities reached, and the knowledge generated to improve autism care in Nigeria and across Africa,” she said.

The committee is expected to recommend suitable host universities and medical schools, establish minimum standards for the design and operation of the centres, develop implementation schedules and cost estimates, and propose a monitoring and evaluation framework to guide the relevant authorities.

The proposed initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for specialised autism care while advancing research, professional training, public awareness and more inclusive support systems for individuals on the autism spectrum.