Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a N200 million support package for autism advocacy and caregiver development in Lagos State. Announced on Thursday at an event marking World Autism Awareness Day at Lagos House, Marina, the donation includes N100 million to the Kanyeyachukwu Foundation and another N100 million for autism-focused organisations under the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). The event celebrated teenage autism advocate Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who completed a long-distance cycling journey from Enugu on March 14, arriving in Lagos without incident.
Sanwo-Olu described the donation as first-level support to strengthen advocacy, expand access to care, and train professional caregivers for children with special needs. "I will give N100 million to all autism-focused groups under LASODA and an additional N100 million from the Lagos State Government to the foundation. This is not just about one child. It is about using this platform to touch many others who do not have the same opportunity," he said. He praised Kanyeyachukwu's parents, especially his mother, for their unwavering support, calling the young advocate a symbol of hope, resilience and inclusion.
The governor highlighted Kanyeyachukwu's journey as a transformation of awareness into action, saying it had redefined public perception of autism. Earlier, Lagos Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, described the cycling feat as a bold initiative that evolved into a social movement. LASODA's General Manager, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to supporting persons with disabilities.
Spending N200 million on autism advocacy only after a viral cycling stunt suggests Lagos State reacts to spectacle, not systemic need. If Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke hadn't pedalled from Enugu, would Sanwo-Olu have noticed autism at all? This funding, while welcome, exposes how policy often follows publicity rather than principle. For thousands of Nigerian children with autism, consistency matters more than photo ops.
