First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Honors 16-Year-Old Autistic Artist Kanyechukwu Tagbo-Okeke Ahead of Children’s Day

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Honors 16-Year-Old Autistic Artist Kanyechukwu Tagbo-Okeke Ahead of Children’s Day

As Nigeria prepares to celebrate Children’s Day 2025, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has paid tribute to 16-year-old autistic artist and Guinness World Record holder, Kanyechukwu Tagbo-Okeke.

Senator Tinubu praised Kanyechukwu, affectionately known as Kanye, for his exceptional talent and resilience. She also commended his parents for their unwavering love and refusal to deny his condition, highlighting the importance of support in helping children with autism thrive.

“His achievement shows that with the right encouragement and opportunities, children with autism can excel in their chosen fields,” the First Lady stated. She urged parents to embrace and nurture their children’s unique passions, noting, “They will show passion for only one thing—support them along that line and watch them excel.”

Kanyechukwu set a Guinness World Record on World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2025, for creating the largest painting on canvas by an individual. His masterpiece, titled Impossibility is a Myth, covers an impressive 12,381.02 square meters—nearly twice the size of a football pitch.

Describing children with autism as brilliant and exceptional, Senator Tinubu emphasized the need to view autism and mental health challenges not as barriers but as different paths to success. She said, “Autism, even mental health generally, happens to very brilliant children. You just have to pay attention to their interests and support them.”

The shy but proud young artist presented one of his works to the First Lady during the ceremony. Through her Renewed Hope Initiative under the Social Investment Programme, Senator Tinubu awarded Kanyechukwu a grant of 25 million Naira to support his education.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, also lauded Kanyechukwu’s achievements. He described him as an exceptional talent and a symbol of hope for raising autism awareness nationwide. Dr. Muhammad emphasized the immense potential of young people with autism when given proper guidance.

Kanyechukwu’s mother, Mrs. Silvia Okeke, expressed deep gratitude to the First Lady for her support of children with special needs. She encouraged other parents to remain hopeful and committed, saying, “Don’t give up. Every day presents challenges, but always believe your child will get better and keep working with them.”

The recognition of Kanyechukwu on the eve of Children’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary capabilities of children with autism and the importance of inclusion and support in unlocking their potential.

Signed:
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Monday, 26th May 2025