…as experts back push for stronger systems, caregiver support and national response
By Gloria Ikibah
Healthcare professionals, policymakers and advocates have praised The Alternative Bank for driving fresh momentum around autism care in Nigeria, following a high-level stakeholders’ roundtable held in Lagos. 
The event, organised in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Eliakim Foundation and Sterling One Foundation, brought together key voices to address gaps in early diagnosis, intervention and long-term support systems.
Participants at the dialogue highlighted the need for a more coordinated national approach, particularly one that prioritises early detection and strengthens support for families and caregivers.
President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, Dr Ime Okon, described the initiative as a timely intervention capable of shaping national action.
“We recognise caregivers and families as central to the success of any intervention. We are showing up, holding their hands, to ensure they are never left to navigate this journey alone,.
“For a physician, showing up means ensuring that a parent’s first concern is met with a strengthened, inclusive system rather than a clinical dead-end with no solution. The Alternative Bank has signaled a shift toward a high-level platform for national action” she said.
Keynote speaker who is founder of the Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Dotun Akande, stressed the importance of embedding developmental screening into primary healthcare systems to ensure early diagnosis.
“What Nigeria must now build is a system where intervention happens early, equitably, and at scale, without depending on chance, geography, or privilege,” she said.
She also underscored the need for structured support for caregivers, including both financial assistance and social support mechanisms.
In response, Executive Director for Commercial and Institutional Banking at The Alternative Bank, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, outlined a three-pronged strategy focused on inclusive education, specialised training for caregivers and health professionals, and public awareness aimed at changing attitudes.
“Early recognition and sustained support depend on a workforce and caregivers who know what to look for, and what to do next,” she said, noting that key developmental indicators are often overlooked.
As part of its immediate steps, the bank has launched a targeted training programme on receptive language disorder in partnership with Eliakim Global Resources.
The roundtable also featured contributions from a range of experts and stakeholders across healthcare, advocacy and policy, with discussions centred on designing sustainable and impactful support systems.
At the close of the meeting, organisers indicated plans to develop a policy brief for government agencies, proposing measures such as vocational pathways, improved funding models for autism care and a one-year pilot programme across selected schools and primary healthcare centres in Lagos.
