Mrs. Ngozi Helen Okoli-Owube is the founder and initiator of Start Right, a centre established in 2007.
For over two decades, Mrs. Okoli-Owube has been dedicated to working with children with diverse needs. Her work brings her immense joy, and feedback from parents highlights the profound positive impact she and her team have made over the years.
Her passion for the field originated from a deeply personal experience—having a family member with special needs. Initially, her motivation was simply to understand the challenges her loved one faced. Regrettably, her relative was unable to attend school due to her condition and age. With few options left to support her development, Mrs. Okoli-Owube was driven to find solutions.
In 2002, she first encountered the term ‘Autism’, and the traits it described mirrored those of her cousin. This revelation spurred her desire to create a dedicated space for children with special needs. It was through this journey that she learned about the Diamond Bank Bright Idea initiative, which aligned with her vision of establishing a centre to serve such children.
She pursued further qualifications in South Africa before officially founding Start Right. Her unwavering passion, combined with her strong faith, has made her a dedicated professional, always approachable and willing to listen to parents. Her continuous pursuit of knowledge within the field reflects her commitment to lifelong learning.
In 2005, after a competitive selection process involving interviews and tests, she emerged as one of the ten winners of the Diamond Bank Bright Idea.
Mrs. Okoli-Owube became the first person to establish a centre for children with special educational needs (SENs) in 2007, with the support of Diamond Bank.
In 2008, she made history as the first African woman to win the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative. Her achievements were subsequently featured in The New York Times.
Her qualifications include engaging with Special Educational Needs (SEN), such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, speech and language disorders, autism, and hyperactivity disorder, through the British Council.
She holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Educational Psychology from the University of Lagos and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Education, also from the University of Lagos.
Mrs. Okoli-Owube has also pursued further professional development, obtaining a Certificate of Attendance for preparing to improve receptive and expressive outcomes in children with developmental disabilities in Lagos, Nigeria.
In addition, she earned a Certificate of Participation in Entrepreneurial Management, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. She also achieved a Certificate of Achievement in the Autism Spectrum Adaptive Programme (ASAP) in Cape Town, South Africa.
She attended a 5-day workshop focused on improving receptive and expressive outcomes in children with developmental disabilities, conducted by Autism South Africa at the World Congress.
Mrs. Okoli-Owube has gained valuable techniques for managing children with autism and related disabilities, having participated in training in Lagos, Nigeria.
Her academic background also includes Urban and Regional Planning in Environmental Sciences from the University of Lagos.
Professionally, she is a member of the Association of Child and Learning Psychologists.
Testimonies from Parents
Aniete’s Parents
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable contributions to our son Anietie’s progress. We are thrilled to inform you that he passed his exams, gained promotion to the next class, and, most remarkably, won the award for “Best Mathematic Pupil” in his class for the academic session just concluded. While we believe Anietie’s improvement is a result of both divine intervention and the power of prayer, we are also certain that Start Right Consulting has played a pivotal role in this miracle. Reflecting on the challenges we faced with other schools and therapy organisations before finding Start Right, we are filled with gratitude. Your professionalism, dedication, and the love you consistently show to our son—and to all the children under your care—are truly appreciated. We are confident in Anietie’s bright future, and when his success story is told, Start Right Consulting will undoubtedly hold an esteemed place. Thank you once again, and may God bless you.
Olu’s Mum
Olu was nearly three years old when he was diagnosed with autism. Initially, he began home therapy, which showed little progress, even when combined with regular schooling. Frustrated, we stopped all therapy and left him in a standard school for about a year. However, we later decided to give therapy another try and were referred to Start Right. Here, he learned to read and write, improved his speech, and controlled his tantrums. After several years, he was incorporated into regular schooling with support, and when he transitioned from lower grade to middle school, we feared he might struggle. To our surprise, with the help of Start Right’s teachers, he not only coped well but excelled, winning academic prizes. Looking back on where we began, we are incredibly grateful for the dedication of his teachers. We hope you will continue your pursuit of excellence and remain steadfast in caring for children with special needs. You have our warm regards.
Benedict’s Dad
I want to extend my sincere appreciation to you and your team for all the support you have provided Benedict. The transformation over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable. We are incredibly proud of him. He is now communicating well, and he is very aware of his surroundings. He’s even taken a keen interest in drawing and colouring, seizing every opportunity to do so.
Mrs Veralyn’s Testimony on Justin’s Journey
I am the mother of Master Justin, a student at Start Right Consulting. Justin joined Start Right in May 2017 because he struggled to adapt to a regular school environment. He was unable to remain calm long enough to focus on his lessons and understand the material being taught, prompting us to enrol him at Start Right. Over time, Justin showed remarkable improvement, particularly in mathematics and reading. His behaviour also became calmer, and he began using more words and interacting with people. I share my story to encourage other parents who are on a similar journey. Having a child with special needs is not easy, but Start Right’s support has kept us from losing hope. May God grant us all the strength and resources to continue caring for our children’s needs. Stay strong and hopeful—your child will overcome too.