Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is developing plans for specialised autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to improve early diagnosis, expand access to care and strengthen support for individuals with autism and their families.
The proposed centres could provide developmental assessments, treatment, rehabilitation, professional training and research services, addressing concerns about delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialised care in Nigeria.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, announced the initiative in Abuja on Thursday, while inaugurating a national committee tasked with developing a framework for establishing the facilities in selected university medical schools. He said the proposal would build on the fund’s Special High Impact Intervention for medical schools, which supports infrastructure and equipment for training professionals in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and related disciplines.
According to Echono, the proposed autism centres would also promote research, public awareness and caregiver support, potentially reducing the burden on families who travel long distances to obtain appropriate services.
He said the facilities were being considered for funding under the proposed 2027 TETFund Special Intervention. However, implementation would depend on the committee’s recommendations, the selection of eligible institutions, available resources and the necessary approvals.
Echono urged committee members to develop practical, evidence-based and sustainable proposals, including realistic cost estimates, technical specifications and measurable targets.
He said potential host institutions should be assessed on geographical coverage, existing medical facilities, the availability of qualified personnel and their capacity to maintain the centres over time.
The committee’s chairperson, Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, said families raising children with autism often face delayed diagnosis because of denial, financial constraints, limited access to specialised services and inadequate professional support.
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Hope Ajayi 
Korede Abdullah 
