15-year-old autistic Nigerian to unveil ‘world’s largest art canvas’ April 2

Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, a 15-year-old autistic Nigerian boy, is set to unveil the “largest art canvas in the world by an individual” on April 2.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.

The unveiling will take place at 10 am at the Eagle Square in Abuja on April 2, which is recognised annually as World Autism Awareness Day.

The event will also feature the formal presentation of the Guinness World Records (GWR) certificate.

It will be attended by prominent figures, including Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) as the chief host; and Mariya Mahmoud, FCT minister of state, as the co-host.

Hannatu Musawa, minister of art, culture, tourism and the creative economy, who is the special guest of honour, will also be in attendance.

Kanye, as he is fondly called, commenced his record-breaking attempt on August 20, 2024, as part of a project by the Zeebah Foundation titled ‘Impossibility Is A Myth’.

The artist seeks to raise funds for the foundation’s state-of-the-art autism resource centre in Abuja through his attempt.

The event is made possible through the support of various organisations, including the Society of Nigerian Artists, The Zeebah Foundation, the federal ministries of education and health, and corporate partners such as MTN and GTCO.

Born in November 2009, Kanye is a young creative artist whose works have graced the walls of several galleries and museums in Nigeria, Europe and other parts of Africa.

In 2018, his art alongside three other Nigerian artists, was featured for the first time at the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID) in Vienna.