By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
On April 2, 2025, Eagle Square in Abuja was transformed into a celebration of resilience and creativity as 15-year-old Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, an autistic Nigerian artist, unveiled his record-breaking painting.
Spanning an incredible 12,303 square metres, the artwork earned Kanye the Guinness World Record for the largest painting on canvas by an individual.
But behind this monumental achievement lies a deeply personal story of determination, family support, and the unwavering belief that impossibility is truly a myth.
A diagnosis that changed everything
Born in Canada in November 2009, Kanye appeared to be a typical child during his first two years. His parents, Tagbo and Dr. Sylvia Tagbo-Okeke, recount those early days. “We thought he was achieving all his milestones,” Tagbo recalls. “But after he turned two, we started noticing delays. There were little signs that alarmed us.”
Concerned, the family sought medical advice in Canada and received a diagnosis that would change their lives forever: autism. Dr. Sylvia vividly remembers the moment she heard the news. “The doctor told me that Kanye would need lifelong care,” she shares. “It was devastating. I called my husband crying because it felt like our world had been turned upside down.”
But instead of succumbing to despair, the couple chose action. “We began to pray and search for solutions,” Tagbo says. “Our journey has been filled with both frustrating and rewarding moments as we search for ways to support him. This has been our story in summary: despite the challenges, we continue to care for our child living with autism.”
Navigating challenges of autism
In a candid and heartfelt account, Dr Sylvia shares the profound challenges of raising a child with autism, revealing a journey marked by resilience, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of progress. From the initial struggle for acceptance to the daily battles with behaviours and educational hurdles, the path is fraught with obstacles that test the limits of both mind and body.
“As my husband mentioned, it hasn’t been easy, not just for me, but for every parent with a child on the spectrum. It’s challenging because you face a multitude of issues. You deal with acceptance, then the strategies, the child’s behaviours, the tantrums, and finding the right school for them—will they be accepted there? You also have to find suitable caregivers, and there are many other things to consider. Additionally, there’s the emotional aspect, which is very draining, both mentally and physically, when caring for a child with special needs. Sometimes, with autism, you make progress, and I always say this: you take a step forward, but then they pick up something new, and it feels like you’ve taken 200 steps backward. So, you have to start all over again.”
One of the family’s biggest challenges was Kanye’s struggle with communication. “He was completely non-verbal,” Tagbo explains. “It was heartbreaking because we didn’t know how to reach him or understand his needs.”
Through therapy and consistent support, Kanye developed limited verbal skills over time. Yet his true voice emerged not through words but through art—a discovery that would change everything for him and his family.
“Art became his language,” Dr. Sylvia says with pride. “When he paints, he expresses emotions that words cannot capture. It’s his way of communicating with the world.”
Discovering his gift for art
Kanye’s artistic journey began unexpectedly. He would scribble on walls and papers around the house. At first, his parents dismissed it as part of his autism.
Dr Sylvia said: “It was more like the passion discovering us. He was always drawing on the walls with pencils, and we would repaint, only for him to draw again. He would draw on A4 paper and scatter them everywhere. Initially, we thought it was part of his autism, until someone visited and saw his work. They asked who did it, and we said Kanye. They advised us to put him in an art class because his drawings were really good.
“Then we met Mrs. Coker Faruq, an arts instructor. She looked at his work and said, ‘You’ve brought us a genius.’ That was it. For Kanye, it’s like he was born with it—it’s innate. That’s basically all I can say.”
Art quickly became Kanye’s sanctuary—a place where he could express himself freely and find joy amidst the challenges of autism. “When he paints, he’s in another world—smiling, focused, and happy,” Tagbo shares.
Dr. Sylvia adds: “Sometimes he paints until he’s tired or hungry. It’s like therapy for him.”
Battling stigmatization
Raising an autistic child in Nigeria comes with societal challenges. The family faced stigmatization and misunderstanding from people who didn’t understand Kanye’s condition or behaviour.
“There were times people mocked him or us as parents,” Dr. Sylvia reveals. “They’d say things like, ‘Why can’t he behave?’ Or they’d assume we weren’t raising him properly.”
But instead of retreating into isolation, the family chose visibility as their weapon against ignorance. “We decided to showcase Kanye’s talent to change perceptions,” Tagbo says firmly. “If people see what he can achieve despite autism, they’ll think twice before judging.”
Finding the right school for Kanye was another uphill battle. At the school he currently attends in Abuja, his parents work closely with teachers to ensure a supportive learning environment.
“There’s no perfect school,” Dr. Sylvia admits candidly. “But we make it work by collaborating with teachers and ensuring continuity between school and home.”
Tagbo elaborates: “We hold Individualised Education Plan (IEP) meetings regularly to align what happens at school with what we do at home. It’s a continuous process.”
This hands-on approach has paid off, allowing Kanye to thrive academically and socially within the limits of his condition.
Family support
Kanye is one of four children in the Tagbo-Okeke family, and his siblings play an essential role in supporting him emotionally and socially.
“His younger sister Michaela doesn’t let him rest,” Dr. Sylvia laughs warmly. “She constantly drags him along—‘Kanye, let’s do this! Kanye, let’s do that!’—even though he doesn’t initiate play himself.”
Tagbo adds: “His older siblings also help by showing love and care without being prompted.” This family dynamic ensures that Kanye feels included while allowing his siblings to develop empathy and understanding.
Kanye has also formed a special bond with his grandfather. “He loves going out with his granddad,” Tagbo shares fondly. “Before, it used to be an issue—he’d struggle with transitions—but now if his granddad says they’re going out together, Kanye gets dressed and waits patiently.”
These outings are not just about fun; they’re part of Kanye’s gradual adaptation to society.
Tagbo says: “Describing the journey from his birth to now involves highlighting several milestones. As parents, we provide immense love and care, which sometimes makes it hard to notice these achievements. Initially, Kenya was non-verbal, but he now has limited verbal skills. His art has become a powerful means of expression, helping him manage mood swings and engage in activities with joy.
“We’ve encouraged Kanye to interact with society by taking him to markets, church, functions, and school. He travels frequently for exhibitions, both solo and collaborative, which has helped him adapt socially. Over time, he has learned to behave appropriately in public, such as waiting in queues and understanding checkout processes at stores. Kanye’s behavioural improvements are evident in his ability to go out with his grandfather without issues. He dresses and waits patiently for his granddad, demonstrating a better understanding of social cues. These small achievements are significant for us as parents, as we focus on providing love and care rather than tracking every milestone.”
Balancing family Life:
Raising an autistic child requires extraordinary effort, but the Tagbo-Okeke family has managed to balance their responsibilities while ensuring their other children feel equally loved.
“It’s delicate,” Tagbo admits candidly. “We don’t want our other kids to feel neglected because so much attention goes to Kanye.” Dr. Sylvia echoes this sentiment: “It takes constant communication and reassurance to make sure everyone feels valued.”
The couple credits teamwork for making it work: “We’ve created a village around Kanye—family members who help monitor him—and we ensure everyone is on the same page.”
‘Impossibility is a Myth’
The theme of Kanye’s record-breaking artwork—Impossibility is a Myth—is deeply personal for the family and reflects their journey of overcoming doubts and challenges.
Dr. Sylvia recalls, the theme “Impossibility is a Myth” originated from a conversation during Kanyeyachukwu’s first exhibition at Terra Kulture in Lagos in 2019, when he was 10 years old. That year, he also won the Indomie Heroes Award for social bravery and was featured at Art Arcade Morocco in Casablanca as one of the youngest artists. Terra Kulture doesn’t typically exhibit children’s work, so when they agreed to feature him, we needed a title. My husband suggested, ‘People say it’s impossible, but impossibility is a myth,’ and that stuck.”
“When we first shared our plans for the Guinness World Record attempt, people laughed at us,” Dr. Sylvia added. “Many people doubted us, saying it was too big and would take years to complete. Some family members didn’t believe he could do it, thinking he’d get tired or just create abstract pieces. We believed in our son and said, “You might think it’s impossible, but impossible is a myth. Whatever you set your mind to and believe in, you can achieve.”
Creation of a masterpiece
The painting process began at the 176 Division in Gwagwalada before moving to JC Best Schools International for completion over three months. Kanye chose the infinity symbol as the central design—a representation of boundless possibilities.
Tagbo said: “It took him three months to complete. Yes, the canvas was enormous, and it wasn’t done in a single day. The first brushstroke was made at 176 Division Gwagwalada, where the Chief of Defence Staff kindly provided the space for the canvas to be laid out. That’s where he mapped out his design. We presented him with three options—the puzzle, the ribbon, and the infinity sign. He chose the infinity sign, which he liked best. He then mapped out the design of the infinity sign.
“If you look around the house, you’ll notice that his signature style includes smiley faces—happy, sad, crying—all of which are his trademarks. After completing the mapping, he moved to his school, JC Best, where he painted the canvas.
The unveiling at Eagle Square was not about painting but about signing his artwork. Though he had spent three months painting, we saved the signature for last so it could be done in front of the world. During his time painting at JC Best, we partnered with Kaftan TV, which documented the process throughout. Even we, his parents and collaborators, hadn’t seen the full canvas assembled until that day. It was brought together in batches, and once we saw it complete, we decided on where he would place his signature. Initially planned for one spot, its sheer size led us to spread his signature across four locations on the canvas. That’s why you saw him moving around and adding finishing touches during the unveiling.
“We wanted this project to raise global awareness about autism,” Tagbo explains passionately. “It wasn’t just about breaking records; it was about breaking barriers.”
The unveiling of Kanye’s artwork on Autism Awareness Day drew international attention and dignitaries from across Nigeria—including President Bola Tinubu—who praised Kanye’s resilience and talent.
“You said ‘Impossibility is a myth,’” Tinubu wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “And you proved it by creating the largest art canvas in history.” Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa also celebrated Kanye’s achievement: “He has shown us all that creative expression knows no boundaries.”
Challenges, sacrifices
Achieving this milestone wasn’t without sacrifices for Kanye or his family. The project drained them financially and emotionally but strengthened their resolve.
“It cost us everything – time, money, energy—but we kept our eyes on the goal because we knew Kanye could do it,” Dr. Sylvia says candidly. Even after achieving global recognition, their focus remains on Kanye’s well-being rather than basking in media attention or accolades.
“He painted non-stop for three months,” Dr. Sylvia explains. “Now we’re helping him return to his routine through therapy.”
Advocacy for inclusion
Through their foundation—the Kanyeyachukwu Autism Society—the family supports underprivileged children on the autism spectrum by providing therapy scholarships and donating art supplies.
They are also into advocacy for government policies to support families with special needs children more effectively.
Said Dr Sylva: “I believe the government should implement more policies to support these children, as well as their parents and caregivers, because many of them are struggling. In this part of the world, if you have four or five children and one is autistic, people often think, “Let me just set this one aside.’ It’s like having five products and considering one defective, so you throw it away and focus on the other four. What we’re saying is that the government should create opportunities to show that the one you think is defective might actually be the best product. They need to put policies in place, build centres and promote inclusion in schools through the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women Affairs, and other humanitarian efforts. This way, these children can be part of society. It takes a village—not just the parents, but the family, government, and society at large—to help these children achieve their potential.”
Tagbo added: “What I would say is that, aside from what my wife mentioned, people often talk about what the government should do. However, let’s focus on empowering the parents and caregivers financially. It’s challenging for the government to directly empower children with autism, but remember, these children will grow into adults one day, and then the government will have to deal with them as adults. So, the key is to focus on empowering the parents and caregivers. If you create policies that help them care for these kids, you’ll achieve two things: you’ll fight stigmatisation and empower them. Once the world sees that the government is interested in children with special needs—whether it’s autism, cerebral palsy, or Down Syndrome—parents will come forward. You’ll be dealing with stigmatization while empowering them at the same time.
“Another thing the government can do is put policies in place that might not even cost money. They can create educational facilities and programmes in government schools to encourage inclusivity. For example, a math or English teacher can be trained to identify children who are slow learners and not just assume they’re lazy. Maybe the child is on the spectrum, but you don’t know. Identify the problem and find solutions. The government should also ensure that primary and secondary schools can cater to children with autism and other special needs, even if it’s just a sensory room. What does it take to create a sensory room? A school can have an ABA specialist. The government can encourage people to study and work in this field, employing them just like medical doctors or lawyers. If each school employs ABA specialists and announces these services to the community, you’ll be tackling stigmatization. Many people, even wealthy ones, hide their children with special needs. But if you address stigmatisation, they’ll bring their children out, and they might even fund some of these initiatives.”
A legacy of hope
As they decompress from months of hard work preparing for Guinness World Record success while managing daily life challenges associated with autism parenting responsibilities alongside professional commitments outside home environments alike—Tagbo reflects thoughtfully upon future possibilities awaiting ahead: “I often say this, especially when it comes to Kanye. My wife has been deeply involved in the process so far, and many times, I’ve stepped back and let her take the lead. So, what’s next? She’s done an excellent job. As a couple, we share similar ideas and goals. I can confidently say that whatever comes next will focus on raising awareness, supporting the community of special needs children and families, and helping humanity. We are very passionate about ensuring inclusivity and giving children worldwide the opportunity to thrive. Whether in our personal lives or through initiatives involving Kanye, our efforts will always align with these values.”
Dr Sylva said: “It’s mostly been congratulations after the win.There has also been increased media attention but right now, we’re taking things one day at a time. It’s been an intense few months, and we need to decompress. As my husband mentioned, our child is still autistic and has been painting non-stop for three months. Our priority now is to refocus on him. Media attention can’t distract us from his well-being. We’ll continue other projects like building the temple, but for now, we’re working on reintegrating him into his routine. This isn’t as simple as telling a typical child to adjust; there are processes involved. Therapy and gradual steps will help us guide him back to his usual schedule while ensuring his comfort and stability.”