As part of activities marking Autism Awareness Month, nine children with special needs displayed remarkable artistic talents at an exhibition hosted at the TR Art Gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event, themed “My Whispering Voice,” was the seventh edition of the annual autism art exhibition organised by Pure Souls Learning Foundation.
It featured a vibrant collection of paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces created by children on the autism spectrum, including Preye Azazi, Funom Ou-Wenyang, Christine Mike Nnaji, Chijindu Chukwunomnso Ijomah, Daniel Ayomikun Okolie, Damiloju Yomi-Adeyemi, Otinakachuckwu Ozor, Anthony Imevbore, and Awelewa Eniola.
Founder and Director of the Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Dotun Akande, said the initiative aims to empower children with autism and provide a platform for their creativity to be seen and appreciated.
“Not only do they exhibit their works, they’ve had opportunities they might never have otherwise experienced,” Akande said. “We’ve taken some of these artworks outside Nigeria and witnessed significant improvement in the children’s expressions through art.”
Also present at the event was the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who commended the exhibition and pledged government support.
“I am amazed by what I’ve seen,” the commissioner said.
These young individuals are conveying their thoughts via different artistic mediums, enabling us to grasp their perspectives beyond spoken language. In the governor’s stead, I commit both structural and monetary backing to this initiative.
The exhibition drew attention to the importance of inclusion, creativity, and early support for children with special needs. Through art, the children conveyed emotions and perspectives that words often cannot capture—reaffirming the message that every voice matters, no matter how softly it whispers.
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