| Abstract: PREAMBLE In this 21st century, Africa and its states remains a 'dark continent' in the era of the fastest developing profession - applied behavior analysis worldwide. The population of Africa is currently 1.24 billion. The World Health Organization has described the situation with autism in Africa as a 'developmental disability pandemic' that is largely under recognized, under appreciated in its impact, and under resourced. Nigeria's current population is about 193million and nearly 1.9 million is projected to be affected. In the entire Africa, the number of Registered Behavior Technicians is 22; BCaBA 4; BCBA 6; BACB approved training institution one, and there is no approved test center in the continent. Specifically, no functional disability legislation in Nigeria rather there exists ineffective infrastructure for special needs service delivery, exclusion on grounds of disability, abuse and violation of human rights. Only one state in Nigeria has 32 government owned inclusion schools staffed with very limited number of under qualified teachers attending. ABA is currently the only scientifically validated intervention for children with Autism and other Developmental Disorders and it comprises of a series of clinically articulated procedures that are systematically performed based on set principles and taught in a highly structured, culturally sensitive manner. The technological know-how involved in this science requires good supervision to ensure competent practice by the professionals CONCLUSION: There is strong need for sustainable capacity building through the transfer of ABA technology, and culturally sensitive manpower development in Nigeria and Africa at large. |