GTCO Autism Conference to advocate more support, empowerment for those with autism spectrum disorder
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) is set to hold this year’s Autism Conference in Nigeria, Themed “From awareness to action: 15 years of advancing autism inclusion”.
Speaking during a media conference held at the GTCO office in Lagos to herald the event, Oyinade Adegite, Chief Communication Officer, GTCO Plc stated that it has been 15 years of Autism, 15 years of creating awareness, 15 years of advocacy, working with partners in Nigeria and abroad and they have been taking the platform to the level for which it was created.
“It is an initiative and programme close to our heart and we will continue to support it,” Adegite said.
She announced that the conference will be held in the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, from 15th to 16th July. Then, from 17th to 19th July, there will be a one-on-one family consultation at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos.
She also revealed that from 21st to 24th July, there will be a workshop and one-on-one family consultation at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana.
Speaking at the media briefing, Dr. Grace Bamgboye, Consultant Speech-Language Pathologist stated that GTCO is one partner that is worthy to be with, championing awareness over 15 years.
She explained that as a therapist, way back when you hear of developmental behaviour, people will raise eyebrow and they are kept at home or kept with grandma in the village and they don’t want to see them or even associate with them that their family has a child with developmental behaviour as no one want associate with them.
“I have a story myself, even going to study the course I studied. Who wants to train a child that has no future? That used to be the language, but all that has changed. And GT Bank coming in added more awareness as they are now bringing those with such behaviour that are 11 months, 18 months, because we don’t see such kids until they are five or six years and the whole intervention is gone,” she added.
Also speaking, Solape Azazi, Behaviour Analyst and Autism Advocate recounted that eight ago she attended a conference and she asked a question because her child had autism, what do I do? and they formed a community with me at that conference and today I am advocating not just for my son, but for other communities.
Osezusi Bolodeoku, Behaviour Analyst & Founder, FOS ABA Centre Clinic stated that she is grateful that she is here again, noting that this year we will be talking about really practical strategies that parents need to use in the kitchen and living room.
“So, we are really advising parents to come because not everybody can afford to come to my clinic, or have access to see Dr Grace. However, when you know what to do in your houses like Dr Grace said people are coming in at 18 months. I started the intervention for my son when he was 17 months and he is 12 years now. So, early intervention is really key.
“We are grateful that we have this platform to create this awareness that there is autism. People don’t really know what autism is and the true meaning of autism. We are sharing light into autism, thanks to GT Bank,” Bolodeoku emphasized.
Fielding questions from news men on available data so far, Adegite explained that they have seen many children with developmental disorder and that over 5,000 family attend the clinic.
In her response to another question as why people relate such thing as autism with our culture, Bolodeoku revealed that in Nigeria we are trying to see how science can marry our own culture, that they are bringing in facilitators to teach how parents can treat such children, even neighbours and community, adding that the mystery around autism has been demystified.
“We are now taking it from awareness to action,” she added.
Other officials present at the press briefing include, Oluwatosin Onabanjo; Corporate Communications GTCO Plc and Aderinsola Alex-Adedipe, Corporate Communications GTCO Plc.