There are more autism schools and therapy centres in Lagos than ever, and no single list tells you which are approved or any good. Here is how to judge them for yourself.
A good autism school or centre in Lagos is properly approved, has staff you can verify, works from an individual plan with measurable goals, involves you, and never promises a cure. Check approvals yourself and visit before you pay.
Start with an assessment
A clear assessment tells you what your child needs, which makes choosing a school or centre much easier. In Lagos, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital runs a child and adolescent clinic at its Oshodi site on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and teaching hospitals and private developmental paediatricians also assess children. Our guide to autism in Nigeria explains what a proper assessment involves, and our guide to psychiatric hospitals in Lagos lists the public options.
What good support looks like
International guidance from the World Health Organization, the UK’s NICE and the US CDC points in the same direction. Good support:
- Builds communication and social interaction, often through play, with parents, teachers and therapists all using the same strategies.
- Includes speech and language therapy where communication is affected, and occupational therapy for sensory needs and daily living skills.
- Trains parents. The WHO runs a caregiver skills programme for exactly this reason: much of the progress happens at home.
- Works from an individual education plan (IEP) with measurable goals, and tells you regularly how your child is doing.
- Understands behaviour before trying to change it. When a child hits, runs or melts down, a good team works out why first.
- Gives your child time with non-autistic children where that suits them.
- Treats your child’s comfort and consent as important, including children who don’t speak.
There are no medicines that treat autism itself, though a doctor may treat related problems such as sleep difficulties or anxiety.
About ABA
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) is widely offered in Lagos, and it divides opinion. Research finds behavioural approaches can reduce behaviours that challenge, while developmental, play-based approaches show clearer benefits for social communication. Many autistic adults criticise ABA programmes that train children to hide autistic traits. Whatever a centre calls its approach, ask what the goals are, who chose them, and how your child’s wellbeing is monitored.
Red flags: walk away
- A promise to cure autism or to make your child “recover”.
- Chelation, “MMS” or chlorine dioxide, stem-cell injections, secretin or hyperbaric oxygen. NAFDAC has warned against chlorine dioxide products marketed for autism, and chelation has killed children.
- Strict diets presented as a cure.
- “Deliverance” or treatment that involves restraint, beating, starving or isolation.
- Restraint or punishment used to manage behaviour.
- You’re not allowed to observe, or there’s no written plan.
- Qualifications you can’t verify, including “board-certified” titles that can’t be checked.
- Large fees up front with no written terms on refunds.
How to check a school or centre
No single regulator covers every autism service in Lagos, so check each layer:
- Schools. Private schools need approval from the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). “Registered” is not the same as “approved”: since 2025, OEQA has registered schools that are still waiting for approval. Ask to see a provisional or full approval letter. OEQA’s online checker is being updated, so contact OEQA directly to confirm.
- Therapy centres. Health facilities must be registered with HEFAMAA, the Lagos health facility regulator, every year. Ask for the current certificate, and confirm with HEFAMAA’s help desk on 0901 563 7023.
- Therapists. Occupational therapists, speech therapists and physiotherapists are licensed by the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board, which has a public licence search on its website.
- Teachers. Check teachers on the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s online register.
- Behaviour analysts. If someone claims to be a board-certified behaviour analyst (BCBA), check the certifying board’s public registry. New certification is now limited to people living in the US, Canada and Australia.
Questions to ask before you enrol
- Who assessed my child’s needs, and how will the plan be made?
- Can I see an example of an individual education plan?
- Who will work with my child, and what are their qualifications and licences?
- How many children does each staff member work with?
- How do you handle meltdowns? Do you ever restrain children?
- How will you help my child communicate, including with pictures or devices if they don’t speak?
- How often will you tell me about progress, and can I observe?
- Will my child spend time with non-autistic children?
- What are the fees, what’s included, and what’s refundable, in writing?
For enrolment in any Lagos school, public or private, you now need your child’s LASRRA number.
Public and low-cost options
- State special schools. The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board lists Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School in Akoka and the Special Children School in Idi-Araba among its special schools. Ask about current admissions for autistic children.
- Inclusive units in public schools. Some Lagos public schools run inclusive units for children with disabilities. Ask your local education district.
- Hospital therapy. LUTH’s occupational therapy department works with autistic children and trains parents and teachers.
- Free consultations. GTCO’s Orange Ribbon Initiative holds an annual autism conference in Lagos with free family consultations. The 2026 round has passed, so watch for the next one.
Your child’s rights
Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 gives persons with disabilities the right to education without discrimination or segregation, free education up to secondary school, and communication in the most appropriate mode. It requires public schools to be inclusive and to have at least one trained staff member. The Act doesn’t name autism, but it covers long-term mental, intellectual and sensory impairments. National guidelines from 2024 on inclusion in schools call for an individual plan with measurable goals for every child.
What it costs
No reliable price list exists for Lagos, and fees vary enormously. Public schools and hospital therapy usually cost far less than private centres. Ask every provider for a written fee schedule before you commit.
Suggested read: Co-Parenting After Separation
Look after yourself too
Parenting an autistic child in Lagos, through traffic, therapy sessions and other people’s opinions, is demanding. Our guide to caregiver burnout is for you. Read more on our page about neurodevelopmental conditions, or find a therapist who works with children and families.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose an autism school in Lagos?
Check its OEQA approval letter, verify staff licences, ask to see an individual education plan, observe a session, and avoid any provider promising a cure.
Are there government schools for autistic children in Lagos?
The state’s special schools include Modupe Cole in Akoka and the Special Children School in Idi-Araba, and some public schools have inclusive units. Ask each about current admissions.
Is ABA therapy good for autism?
Behavioural approaches can reduce behaviours that challenge, while play-based developmental approaches show clearer benefits for communication. Many autistic adults criticise ABA that trains children to hide autistic traits. Ask any provider about their goals and how your child’s wellbeing is monitored.
Can autism be cured?
No. Autism is a lifelong difference, and good support helps children communicate, learn and thrive. Be wary of anyone who promises a cure.
How do I check if an autism centre is registered?
Ask for its current HEFAMAA certificate and confirm by phone, check therapists on the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board’s licence search, and for schools, ask for an OEQA approval letter.
This article is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
