Majority of Autistic Children Face Behavioural Challenges

Experts have said a majority of children with autism in Nigeria face significant behavioural challenges, with aggression and self-injury among the most common problems. According to available research cited at the event, between 56 per cent and 94 per cent of children diagnosed with autism experience these behavioural difficulties, creating major challenges for families and caregivers.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person interacts with others, communicates, learns and behaves, with a wide range of symptoms whose severity varies considerably from one individual to another.

The experts spoke at the 16th edition of the Annual Autism Conference organised by Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), themed "Acceptance in Action: From Family to Classroom to Workplace to Public Spaces," held on July 27 and 28 at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

A clinical psychologist, Dr Abiola Taiwo, said many children with autism display behaviours that parents and teachers would like to see less often. She warned that "without intervention, these behaviours often persist and can intensify over time."

Taiwo added that families caring for children with autism who have significant behavioural challenges frequently report high levels of stress, with some experiencing depression and other stress-related difficulties, as the child's behaviour can compound existing pressures in the home. She stressed that understanding why these behaviours occur is the first step toward addressing them, explaining that all behaviour communicates something.

Illustrating this point, she said, "A child may hit or self-injure because they are in physical pain, such as a toothache, but cannot express it verbally." She further explained that behaviours also occur in context, noting that a child who becomes agitated during math work may be calm and happy at the park with friends. Over time, she said, children learn that certain behaviours produce specific outcomes, such as receiving a tablet or food, which can reinforce the very behaviours caregivers are trying to reduce.

The conference forms part of GTCO's long-running social intervention programme, which the bank says has, over 16 years, evolved into one of West Africa's leading autism advocacy platforms, bringing together healthcare professionals, therapists, educators, policymakers, caregivers and families to promote greater understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders and encourage the development of effective support systems.

Speaking on this year's theme, GTCO's Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the 2026 edition reflects the need to move beyond awareness towards creating environments where individuals on the Autism spectrum are supported and empowered at home, in school, in the workplace, and in public spaces. The programme featured expert-led discussions and workshops delivered by leading local and international specialists in developmental and behavioural sciences, covering key areas such as early intervention and family support strategies.

Also speaking ahead of the conference, GTCO's Chief Communications Officer, Oyinade Adegite, clarified that true acceptance is rooted in simple, accessible human empathy, as part of a broader push by organisers to move beyond awareness to taking concrete actions that promote accessibility and sustained support across families, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

Following the Lagos sessions, the programme is proceeding to free one-on-one family consultations with medical and developmental specialists from July 29th to August 1st at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, giving parents and caregivers direct access to specialists who can help them apply the guidance shared during the conference to their own children's needs.

Experts at the event maintained that while behavioural challenges among autistic children remain common, early recognition of triggers, consistent intervention, and stronger support systems at home and in schools can significantly improve outcomes for both children and their families.