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At 15, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke has proved to the world that impossibility is a myth. Indeed, not many teenagers around the world can muster the courage he had to set a Guinness World Record for painting the world’s largest art canvas; and cycling hundreds of miles from Enugu to Lagos to draw attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The massive piece, titled: “Impossibility is a Myth,” measuring 12,303.87 square meters – more than 132,000 square feet – turned out to be larger than a typical football field. When the monumental artwork was unveiled on April 2, 2025, which coincided with World Autism Acceptance Day, at the Eagle Square in Abuja, many were shocked to learn that the feat was performed by an autistic young Nigerian.
To drive home the point he set out to make, the painting featured a multi-coloured ribbon symbolising autism, surrounded by various emojis, aiming to raise awareness about autism and the challenges faced by individuals on the spectrum in Nigeria.
Born in 2009 in Canada before moving to Nigeria, Kanyeyachukwu was diagnosed with autism at an early age, making him to face many challenges that typically come with being neurodivergent in a society that often struggles to understand or accommodate such differences. But that has not stopped him from breaking barriers.
His love for drawing was discovered at the age of four, and with dedicated support, he honed his artistic talent. The record-breaking project also served as a fundraising initiative for the Zeebah Foundation, a non-profit organisation supporting autistic individuals and their families in Nigeria.
When he said: “I felt fine, happy. Just fine,” the world realised that autism cannot stop him. His artwork eclipsed that of Emad Salehi of Qatar, the previous world record holder, who was nearly three times older at 42 when he set the record with a 9,652-square metre canvas.
Kanyeyachukwu added another feather to his cap of honour at age 16 as the youngest male cyclist to ride 100 miles from Enugu to Lagos to draw attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder, setting another world record. To earn that honour, he rode across seven states in Nigeria namely: Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, and Lagos.
For breaking barriers against all odds, he wins The Nigerian Hero Award 2026.
