Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has honoured 16-year-old autistic artist Kanyeyachukwu Okeke for his exceptional achievement in setting a new Guinness World Record.
During a reception at the State House on Monday, The First Lady praised Kanyeyachukwu, whose 12,303-square-meter canvas painting surpassed the previous record of 3,000 square meters. The artwork, titled “Impossibility is a Myth,” was unveiled at the Eagles Square in Abuja during World Autism Awareness Day.
The visit, which came a day before Children’s Day, included Kanyeyachukwu’s parents and officials from the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, FMACCE.
Mrs. Tinubu expressed joy at celebrating a gifted child living with autism and emphasized that autism and mental health conditions should never limit children’s potential.
Through her Renewed Hope Initiative, she presented Kanyeyachukwu with a N25 million grant to support his education. She also applauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for supporting children with special needs.
“Artists like Kanyeyachukwu are rare. Many children with autism are brilliant and simply need encouragement and attention,” she said. “We couldn’t have chosen a better time than Children’s Day to honour him.”
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Mrs. Tinubu also urged society to recognise the talents of children with special needs and create platforms for them to thrive. She thanked the Okeke family for their dedication and love, calling their support instrumental in Kanyeyachukwu’s journey.
FMACCE’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, described the young artist as an inspiration. He said Okeke’s work has earned Nigeria global recognition and helped raise awareness about autism.
Mrs. Silvia Okeke, the artist’s mother, thanked the First Lady for her encouragement and advised parents to never give up on their special needs children. She credited her son’s success to persistence and consistent support.
“Every day comes with its challenges, but we remained hopeful,” she said. “Parents should believe in their children and work with them patiently.”
NAN
