Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has announced the 16th edition of its Annual Autism Conference as part of efforts to deepen autism awareness, acceptance and inclusion across Africa.
The two-day conference, themed “Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces,” will take place on July 27 and 28, 2026, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. The event will be followed by free one-on-one consultations for families with children on the autism spectrum.
GTCO said the conference has grown into one of West Africa’s leading autism advocacy platforms, bringing together healthcare professionals, therapists, educators, policymakers, caregivers and families to provide developmental support, professional guidance and practical learning opportunities.
According to the company, this year’s theme shifts the focus from awareness to practical action by encouraging the creation of inclusive homes, schools, workplaces and public spaces for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Participants will attend expert-led panel discussions, workshops and consultation sessions facilitated by local and international specialists in developmental and behavioural sciences. The programme will also cover early intervention, behavioural therapy, communication strategies, inclusive education and caregiver support.
Following the Lagos conference, free consultations with medical and developmental experts will hold from July 29 to August 1 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.
The initiative will also extend to Ghana, where a workshop is scheduled for August 4 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, while free consultations will run from August 5 to August 8 at the same venue.
GTCO Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the company’s 16-year commitment to the autism programme has been driven by its desire to support families navigating the challenges of autism.
He noted that the 2026 theme calls on families, educators, employers and policymakers to take deliberate steps towards building a society where individuals on the autism spectrum can thrive.
Agbaje added that meaningful inclusion requires collective responsibility, stressing that GTCO will continue to provide access to expert knowledge and resources that empower people with autism to participate fully and confidently in everyday life.
The company said members of the public can register for the conference and free consultation sessions through its Autism Programme portal.
