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A Nigerian autism expert and neurodiversity advocate, Boluwatife Ayanwole, has called for a major cultural reorientation in the understanding of autism and the entire condition in Africa.
He urged governments and societies in Africa to move beyond stigma, myths, and mere medical definitions to functional support, inclusion, and empowerment of neurodiverse persons.
Ayanwole made the call while speaking during at a two-day International Neurodiversity Conference 2026 webinar, which started on Thursday, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He said, in a statement made available to our correspondent, that autism should be understood through the combined influence of neurological, psychological, and environmental factors, rather than being reduced to signs and symptoms alone.
According to him, Nigerian and African governments need to establish public autism centres across the continent to provide affordable diagnosis, therapy, skills training, and creative empowerment, particularly for low-income families.
He also condemned what he described as the commercialisation of autism by some therapists, insisting that functionality, independence, and humanity must take precedence over profit.
He said, “Autism is a condition characterised by deficits in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and repetitive behaviours.
“Signs and symptoms of autism in children as early as two years, including pragmatic language impairments, repetitive behaviours (stimming), difficulty maintaining eye contact, toe walking, social communication challenges, delayed language development, and self-injurious behaviour.
“Parents should be their child’s voice when nobody is supporting, and to never allow systemic barriers or stigma to cause limitations. Family should be the first support system for the needs of the child. Even if society, government, and policies aren’t supporting your neurodiverse child, be the active voice that your child needs for everything to be well-adjusted.
“The society needs to see individuals on the autism spectrum through the lens of functionality, empathy, acceptance, inclusion, and empowerment, and to prioritise their humanity over their condition. The Nigerian government should establish public autism centres across the country and provide accessible therapy and support to those who cannot afford it.
“Understanding autism is about showing empathy instead of sympathy, seeing strengths over weaknesses, and embarking on functional skills development for self-independence and societal relevance.”
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