The Patrick Speech and Language Centre has launched a national campaign to promote job opportunities for people with developmental differences and change how Nigeria views disability. The organization made this announcement at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday as part of its 20th anniversary celebration. Founded in 2006 with initial funding of 45 million naira, PSLC provides autism and developmental therapy services across Nigeria through direct therapy, staff training, and policy advocacy work.
Mrs. Dotun Akinde, the centre's founder and director, said the organization is moving beyond offering therapy services alone to driving system-wide changes that position neurodiverse individuals as valuable contributors to Nigeria's workforce and economy. She explained that when PSLC started two decades ago, awareness about autism in Nigeria was minimal and the sector lacked proper infrastructure. The centre has since worked with thousands of children and families through therapy services and early intervention programmes across the country.
Over the past twenty years, PSLC has trained more than 300 therapists, educators and caregivers in developmental therapy and support methods. The organization expanded its reach through its non-profit arm, the Puresouls Learning Foundation, which helps provide services to families who cannot afford private therapy. Akinde noted that many of the centre's beneficiaries who were previously unable to speak or were excluded from mainstream settings are now thriving in school and community environments, proving the value of early intervention and long-term support.
Akinde described PSLC's two-decade journey as one that began with establishing a therapy facility but evolved into a mission of empowering families and transforming life outcomes for children facing developmental challenges. The centre's work has also influenced how parents, educators and communities understand and support children with autism and other developmental differences. She said the organization's approach combines clinical expertise with advocacy aimed at changing public attitudes and government policies.
As part of the anniversary celebration, PSLC announced a year-long national advocacy campaign built around storytelling and performance arts. The initiative will feature an original dance-drama production created specifically to challenge societal perceptions of disability, encourage inclusion, and engage policymakers on reform issues. Akinde described performance art as a strategic tool for converting complex policy matters into human stories that audiences can connect with emotionally, which helps shift public opinion and prompts institutional action.
The dance-drama production will tour cities across Nigeria over the coming months, carrying messages about disability rights and economic inclusion to diverse audiences. The campaign will also create opportunities for neurodiverse individuals to develop and showcase their talents through the performing arts. Akinde called on corporate organizations, development agencies, and government officials to partner with PSLC on this initiative to ensure it reaches beyond awareness into sustained policy change at federal and state levels.
PSLC has prepared detailed project proposals including programme design, budget breakdowns, and measurable impact indicators that will be shared with potential corporate and institutional partners. The organization is seeking funding and in-kind support to execute the nationwide tour and ensure the advocacy campaign reaches decision-makers in government. Akinde said the goal is to convert the energy and goodwill from the anniversary year into concrete changes in how Nigeria's systems support people with developmental differences and create genuine pathways to employment and economic participation.
