Experts have dismissed claims linking autism to poor parenting and genetically modified organisms. They urged Nigerians to stop stigmatising parents of autistic children and to provide affected individuals with the support they need to develop their abilities.

They explained that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with complex genetic and biological factors, rather than a consequence of how parents raise their children or the consumption of genetically modified foods.

The experts spoke on Saturday in Abuja during an autism awareness engagement and walk.

The event, organised by the Mindful Bridges Foundation, was aimed at dispelling misconceptions about the condition and promoting the inclusion and acceptance of autistic people.

The founder of the foundation, Rosemary Mbanefo, said the belief that autism results from poor parenting had subjected many families to unnecessary blame and stigma.

She stressed that autism could occur in any family and should not be interpreted as evidence of parental failure, inadequate discipline or a curse.

“Autism is not caused by poor parenting,” Mbanefo said, calling on Nigerians to replace blame with understanding and support for affected children and their families.

“Anybody can have autism. Any family can have a child with autism. It is not because the parents failed or did not train the child well. We need to stop the blame and start understanding,” she stated.

Mbanefo said the Mindful Bridges Foundation was committed to raising awareness, promoting acceptance and providing support for autistic individuals, including through skills development, vocational training and advocacy.

Also speaking, a scientist, Amarachi Onyebuchi, dismissed claims that genetically modified organisms caused autism, saying there was no established scientific evidence supporting the allegation.

She explained that autism was associated with genetic and neurodevelopmental factors and cautioned against attributing the condition to particular foods without scientific evidence.

“Autism is said to be like a neurodevelopmental genetic issue, so it’s a defect in genetics. So that is like number one thing for autism,” Onyebuchi said.

On whether GMOs caused autism, she said, “Scientifically, I would say no.”

She added, “What we eat helps in our development as a human being, but number one thing scientifically right now is that it’s a genetic defect.”

However, according to the World Health Organisation, autism is not attributable to a single genetic defect. Rather, it is a complex condition involving multiple genetic and developmental influences, with research still examining how different factors contribute to its development.

The WHO describes autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, as a diverse group of conditions related to brain development. Its characteristics may include differences in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests.

The global health body says the condition is described as a spectrum because autistic people have different strengths, challenges and support needs. While some require substantial assistance in daily living, others can live independently with appropriate support.

The discussion at the Abuja event highlighted the need to confront misinformation that can delay families from seeking appropriate assessments and support for their children.

Also at the event, the fashion facilitator at the foundation, Ginikachi Duruaku, encouraged parents not to lose hope. She said her experience teaching autistic children vocational and creative skills had challenged her previous assumptions about their learning abilities.

Duruaku said she initially doubted whether autistic children could learn new skills but had since observed that, with patience, repetition and appropriate guidance, they could acquire skills over time.

“I think it’s actually been very, very interesting. It’s my first time actually handling autistic children and seeing them pick up, seeing them repeat things over and over again,” she said.

She explained that some children required repeated instruction before mastering a task, but that the progress they made demonstrated the importance of patience and individualised teaching methods.

“Before now I didn’t think they could actually pick up, but when I read up about it and with my experience so far, I have realised that actually they pick up, not very quickly, but they do pick up eventually, and it’s so wonderful,” Duruaku stated.

She urged parents to seek opportunities that would help their children develop their abilities instead of viewing an autism diagnosis as a barrier to their future.

“There is actually hope. There is very, very big hope. If you give it a try, just come and give it a try, when you give it a try you will testify and see that there is hope. The fact that your child has autism is not the end. It does not say that your child cannot make it or cannot grow or get other skills,” she said.

Duruaku added that autistic children had varying abilities and that some demonstrated strong skills in reading and other areas when given the right learning opportunities.

“Some of them are actually very intelligent, you know, they pick up things, even reading, they read very well and all of that,” she said.

She stressed that parents, educators and society needed to recognise individual differences among autistic children and provide environments where they could learn and participate meaningfully.

The experts called for sustained public education, greater acceptance and expanded opportunities for autistic people to develop practical skills, participate in society and reach their potential.