GTCO Announces Date, Venue For Autism Conference

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) is set to hold its 12th edition of the annual GTCO Autism Conference themed 'Creating a Community of Awe-Tism Advocates' on Monday and Tuesday, August 29 and 30, 2022, at MUSON Center, Onikan, Lagos.

According to a statement from the bank made available to AllNews Nigeria, the annual Autism Conference serves as an avenue to adhocate for people living with autism and other developmental disorders.

Tbe statement reads, "In recent years, the GTCO Autism Conference has gained wider acclaim for bringing together some of the world’s leading experts in Autism, especially with the successful coordination of a fully virtual autism conference in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"For this year, the GTCO Autism Conference will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions by experienced specialists from renowned institutions in Nigeria and abroad in a hybrid set-up to allow for both in-person and virtual participation.

"Some of the partnering organisations include Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Autism Compassion Africa, Ghana, The Color of Autism Foundation, USA, Meharry Medical College, USA, and Behaviorprise Consulting Inc., Canada."

The statement further revealed a key activity that will take place during the conference which is a one-on-one consultations and Q&A sessions that will provide opportunities for parents and other stakeholders to further engage on best practices for proper diagnosis and treatment of persons on the autism spectrum with the experts.

Also, according to the statement, provision has been made to offer specialist care to autistic children in the areas of speech and behaviour therapy, child psychology and psychiatry, as well as occupational development for adults living with autism via in-person consultations at the Chapel of Light, Alausa, Ikeja, starting from Tuesday, August 23 to Saturday, August 27 between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm. 

Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, while speaking on the 2022 Autism Conference, said, "While much has been done over the years to increase the social consciousness around Autism and to improve the available support systems for managing developmental disorders, we strongly believe that we can do more individually and collectively to create and uphold a culture of inclusion towards people with ASD to enable them reach their full potential.

“The Orange Ribbon initiative was created to support children and adults with developmental disabilities with a focus on those with autism spectrum disorders.

"Now in its second decade, the annual Autism Conference has over the years created a community of people with a shared commitment to create better outcomes for those who find themselves in the margins of society simply because they are different from the rest"

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) is a leading financial services company providing banking and non-banking services across eleven countries spanning West Africa, East Africa, and the United Kingdom.