Our involvement in Autism Conference is to create inclusiveness- GTCO
By Amechi Obiakpu
As the 2023 Autism Conference prepares to hold, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), organizer of the event has said the idea behind the conference is to bring inclusiveness.
This year’s conference which is the 13th edition is themed “Empowering Voices for Autism” to promote inclusivity and self-advocacy for persons on the Autism Spectrum and will hold in Nigeria and Ghana.
For Nigeria, the conference will hold on the 24th and 25th of July at the Muson Centre, Lagos, whilst the free one-on-one clinic will open from July 26th to 29th, at the Chapel of Light, Alausa, Ikeja. For Ghana, the activities will begin with a workshop on the 1st of August at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana, and consultations will last from August 2nd to 5th at the same venue.
Speaking during a press conference at the company’s Headquatre on Thursday, July 20, 2023, Tolulope Onipede, Head, Corporate Communications, GTB, said the objective of the conference is first to create awareness about people with neurodevelopmental disorders and to give them a voice in the society.
She noted that, this year the bank decided to broaden the area to accommodate more people, especially in areas children need help.
“For us, first is to create/increase the awareness of autism with key focus to provide assistance to enable them fit in the society. We don’t expect that you speak once and people will hear you that is why we have been speaking for the past 13 years. We keep speaking and improving so that more people will be heard. It is important our voices are heard and the louder the better because it breeds a better society for all,” she said.
Continuing she noted, “Autism all over the world is very expensive to manage, Gtb in recognizing this fact is bringing a lot of experts for the one on one consultation, professionals like behavioural analysts, Psychologists, occupational therapists among others so that persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their caregivers can be equipped with all the information available”.
Corroborating Tolulope, Oyinade Adegite, Chief Communication Officer, GTCO Plc; said inclusivity is an important message Gtb try to preach. She believes that when there is awareness more people with the ASD will speak out.
A resource person and Autism Advocate, Remi Olutimayin, said people with ASD usually don’t come out to say they have a problem because they may seem marked out, “but, in recent time we have seen more people speak out about their neurodevelopmental disorder because of platforms like the Autism Conference which has made them to live better and healthier lives.
“Because of conference like this, lives will be bettered for people with ASD leading to new and healthier knowledge gained which will be mind blowing, he posited.
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