By Henry Ojelu

The inaugural cohort of the Neurodiversity Awareness Fellowship Programme for Anglophone West Africa has completed its intensive nine-week training phase and is set to commence grassroots awareness and advocacy projects across five countries in the region.

The fellowship, organised by the Punuka Foundation in partnership with Meristem Trustees Limited, was established to equip emerging advocates with the knowledge and skills required to promote neurodiversity and foster inclusive practices within their communities.

During the training period, participants underwent a comprehensive learning programme facilitated by experts in neurodiversity, education, advocacy, policy development and leadership.

The sessions covered a wide range of subjects, including the history and evolution of neurodiversity in West Africa, the science of neurodiversity, inclusive education, legal and policy frameworks, public awareness campaigns, project management, monitoring and evaluation, as well as stakeholder engagement.

Speaking on the successful completion of the training phase, the organisers commended the faculty members whose contributions played a key role in the programme’s success.

The faculty comprised Dr. Tom Nicholson, Dr. Gifty Rockson, Dr. Ayodele Renner, Mr. Ogunyemi Kunle, Olubunmi Asotie, Mubarak Idris, Iswat Badmus, Ebuka Alumona and Mr. Joseph Julius.

According to the organisers, the fellows will now move from classroom-based learning to practical implementation by designing and executing community-driven awareness and advocacy initiatives focused on neurodiversity.

The projects will be implemented in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, with the objective of increasing public understanding, acceptance and support for neurodivergent individuals at the grassroots level.

The organisers noted that the fellowship is aimed at creating sustainable social impact by empowering advocates to challenge misconceptions, promote inclusive education and engage critical stakeholders within their local communities.

They also acknowledged the support of Meristem Trustees Limited, the programme’s official partner, for its commitment to advancing inclusive education and social development.

As the fellowship enters its implementation stage, stakeholders are expected to track the impact of the various projects and document outcomes from interventions across the participating countries.