GTBank Holds 6th Annual Autism Conference Today

Foremost financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, is set to hold the 6^th edition of its Annual Autism Conference. The two-day programme, which is free and open to the general public, will hold on the 20^th and 21^st of June, 2016 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Themed “Managing Autism: The Next Generation, Consideration and Resources”, the Autism Conference will feature specialists from Nigeria and the United States of America offering consulting services ranging from the assessment of children for Autism and other developmental challenges to the counselling of their parents. Other services include; Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy , Behaviour Analysis, Audiology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychiatry, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy.

Amongst the partners for the two-day programme are the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Patience Ambode, First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, the state Ministries of Health and Education, Science and Technology, Blazing Trails International, Texas, USA, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Patricks Speech and Language Centre and the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro Ogun State.

The annual Autism Awareness Conference commenced in 2009 as part of the GTBank Orange Ribbon Initiative, an advocacy program which has been at the forefront of creating awareness for ASD to ensure autism is diagnosed early in children, encouraging investment in autism research and management as well as campaigning not only against the stigmatization of children living with autism but also that they receive the required support from parents, teachers, friends and the society. The 5^th edition of the Autism Conference had over 1,500 participants, more than triple the number which attended the inaugural conference. Even more participants are expected at this year’s conference which starts by 9am and closes by 5pm daily.

Commenting on the 6^th Annual Autism Awareness Conference, Mr Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, said; “This year, we hope to go beyond awareness and make our greatest impact yet amplifying the national awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder and increasing the expert assistance available to people living with Autism. He further stated “Our belief that children, irrespective of developmental disorders, can reach the fullness of their potential continues to inspire us to provide support for parents, teachers and care givers of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder through our annual Autism program.”

Guaranty Trust Bank plc is one of the few Nigerian financial institutions that have maintained a defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy since its inception in 1990. The Bank actively supports numerous programmes across Africa that positively affect Infant and Maternal Healthcare, Education, the Art, Community Development and the Environment.