{"id":124305,"date":"2025-12-09T13:55:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=124305"},"modified":"2025-12-09T13:55:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:55:52","slug":"n-assembly-moves-to-tackle-stigma-against-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/n-assembly-moves-to-tackle-stigma-against-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"N\/Assembly moves to tackle stigma against autism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Assembly has perfected strategies aimed at tackling stigma against autism among children across the country.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pursuant to the goal, the National Assembly library on Tuesday, hosted a special art exhibition and interactive session designed to raise awareness about autism, inclusion, and the urgent need for stronger national policies to support families caring for children on the spectrum.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event highlighted the works of Kanye, a young autistic artist who recently set a Guinness World Record for the largest painting on canvas.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maria Okafor, founder of the RBM Autism Foundation, said the exhibition emphasizes the importance of storytelling and creative expression for children living with autism.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She noted that many children on the spectrum struggle with verbal communication, making alternative forms of expression, such as painting, music, and crafts, crucial tools for connection and understanding.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;This kind of storytelling through art is extremely important. Many children with autism are non-verbal, yet they can communicate through creativity. Kanye is a perfect example. His parents nurtured his artistic talent, and today he holds a Guinness World Record,\u201d she said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Okafor also called for government-led national awareness initiatives, highlighting that many parents remain hesitant or fearful due to social stigma. She urged authorities to promote inclusive campaigns that foster understanding and acceptance across the country.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Henry Nwauba, a senior official at the National Assembly Library, described the institution as a hub for engagement and dialogue on issues affecting vulnerable groups. He affirmed the library\u2019s commitment to supporting initiatives that advance inclusion and amplify the concerns of often-overlooked communities.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;Today\u2019s event is more than an exhibition; it is an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges surrounding autism. Inclusion is part of the legislative agenda of both chambers of the National Assembly. While a specific autism bill may not yet exist, any policy that strengthens inclusion is one we support,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nwauba added that discussions and interactions during the event could inform future legislative proposals. He also emphasized the need for patience, understanding, and emotional support for autistic children and their caregivers.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kanye\u2019s father, Mr. Tu Okeke, said the exhibition forms part of his family\u2019s ongoing efforts to leverage his son\u2019s artistic talent to promote autism awareness and advocacy. He revealed that Kanye began painting at the age of five, and his artwork has since become a platform for social impact.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;In partnership with the National Assembly Library, we decided to host this exhibition to foster dialogue around autism, special needs, and the type of legislation families urgently require,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Okeke highlighted that many children need therapy and interventions, yet access remains limited due to high costs. He stressed the importance of laws that guarantee access to education, employment opportunities, affordable healthcare, and therapy for individuals living with autism and other neurological conditions.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that autism is gaining recognition across Nigeria, not just in major cities but also in underserved communities where awareness is limited and stigma remains high. He also commended notable Nigerians, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for speaking out on issues affecting children with disabilities.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;This exhibition is not only about showcasing Kanye\u2019s art. It is about generating dialogue and practical solutions. Any recommendations arising from today\u2019s discussions will be submitted to the National Assembly,\u201d he assured.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Tracy Moses The National Assembly has perfected strategies aimed at tackling stigma against autism among children across the country. Pursuant to the goal, the National Assembly library on Tuesday,&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":77418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>N\/Assembly moves to tackle stigma against autism - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/n-assembly-moves-to-tackle-stigma-against-autism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"N\/Assembly moves to tackle stigma against autism - Pointblank News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Tracy Moses The National Assembly has perfected strategies aimed at tackling stigma against autism among children across the country. 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